“Spending time with my grandparents was really an important part of my childhood, and it helped me develop a lot of compassion and respect for older adults in our community,” Sako says.

Katarina Sako ’24 speaks with a participant in the recent Age Well Days event (Photo by Charles Wainwright)

Sako’s interactions with her grandparents, including more recently as part of her family’s role in caregiving, planted the seed for her interest in her work assisting older adults through the creation of community programming.

Sako is an volunteer through . As a community organizer, Sako works to improve how older adults get connected to services that can help them thrive.

“I’m able to look at systemic issues in our society and how that impacts older adults and their health,” says Sako, who is also working to strengthen and expand a coalition of aging services organizations. “Because you can’t really address one facet without addressing the model.”

As an undergraduate student, Sako was initially interested in researching memory from a psychology perspective. She joined a lab at SUNY Upstate Medical University, and through that work, Sako decided to focus on neurodegeneration and dementia from a biology perspective.

“When you’re talking about dementia, which is my hope to study as a geriatrician, it’s not just focused on the biology—you can’t just address things from a biological perspective,” she says. “You really need to look at the entire person.”

The skills utilized in her current role took shape during her time on campus, where she majored in biology and neuroscience and minored in Spanish in the .

Katarina Sako demonstrates an apple crisp recipe during a recent Age Well Day event in ���ϲ�����

Sako volunteered as a telehealth consultant over the summer with InterFaith Works. She created a pilot program to help older adults gain the skills needed to navigate telehealth appointments, which gained popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“There are a lot of benefits offered by telehealth, such as not going in person to your doctor’s appointment, which can be especially helpful if you have mobility issues,” says Sako. “However, technology issues can be really challenging for many older adults.”

The AmeriCorps VISTA program is focused on reducing poverty in the community. Sako’s skills and experience made her the perfect fit for the community organizer role.

Lori Klivak, senior director for the Center for Healthy Aging at InterFaith Works, was Sako’s supervisor in her telehealth consultant role and later introduced Sako to the community organizer opportunity, where Klivak��continues to be Sako’s supervisor.

One of InterFaith Works’ initiatives is the Greater ���ϲ����� Aging Services Coalition, which started in 2020 to unite aging services organizations under one umbrella.

One of the ways Sako reaches out and makes connections is through Age Well Days, an event that brings community services together for older adults. During the most recent event, held on Sept. 24 at Park Central Presbyterian Church in downtown ���ϲ�����, attendees were served a healthy lunch (including a salad made by Sako). They heard presentations from community organizations on health, digital literacy, voting and food assistance, while Sako demonstrated how to make a healthy (and tasty) apple crisp. Attendees took home fresh produce.

“These are opportunities for lower-income older adults in the community to receive important services. The goal is to have people actively enroll in things,” says Sako. “For example, if you need food assistance or you are experiencing food insecurity, let’s enroll you in SNAP. We want to ease this enrollment process because as much as we have these resources available, the number of older adults who are actually enrolled in these programs is low.”

A timeline of Age Well Day events is still being determined, but Sako plans to hold the events at three different locations throughout the community. The Sept. 24 event focused on eating well, and funding was provided by the ���ϲ����� Onondaga Food Systems Alliance.

Sako believes the project has a lot of longevity. “You could compare it to a resource fair, but it’s really meant to be a more intimate setting where we’re connecting with the participants who are there,” she says. “It’s affirming the dignity of all races, all religions and recognizing the diversity that is ���ϲ����� and Onondaga County.”

“My hope is that in forming these connections, we’re able to build long-term partnerships for the Greater ���ϲ����� Aging Services Coalition,” Sako says. “Our goal is promoting aging well in the community and reiterating that ageism doesn’t have a place here.”

Klivak says that Sako’s work is helping to fill a critical gap between services and knowledge. “We have programs, we have support, we have things in place in our community that can help older adults who age better,” she says. “But there’s a gap between what people understand or know about what we have and actually providing those services. And we don’t have all the services in all the right places.”

“Our goal is to improve the way that we, as service providers and program providers get information out, connect with communities and build relationships with communities so that they feel comfortable coming to us,” Klivak says.

It’s also raising awareness about what older people need that goes beyond the conventional wisdom that may focus on food or heat assistance or health care. There are other needs, such as AIDS and HIV prevention, digital literacy and voting issues that are not at the forefront of people’s minds.

“You may think of food or help with heat, but you’re not thinking about how it may not be easy for them to get on a computer or a smartphone and access these resources,” Klivak says. “We tend to think about aging through the lens of death, disease and decline, but that’s not the full story.”

Older adults are the number one voting bloc, the number one volunteering demographic and 42% of the local tax base, Klivak says. “These are people who are helping raise their grandchildren, helping their neighbors and who want to communicate with friends who have moved, all sorts of things,” she says. “And we want them to thrive.”

Klivak says as more outreach and connections are made, everyone is learning how to move the conversation forward and change the narrative to be more age-positive and age-friendly.

Klivak says that Sako has been a good fit for her role. “She is pretty fearless,” she says. “She jumps right in, asks really good questions and then just gets to work.”

Her title, community organizer, illustrates her mission to build relationships. “This is about making change, and change happens when people trust you,” Klivak says. “Her primary role is to be out and about in the community, meeting people, learning what’s going on, getting people interested in what we’re doing. And she has taken that seriously.”

Ultimately, Sako believes that, through her work, she is honoring her grandparents. “I think my grandparents could also benefit from Age Well days, definitely,” Sako says. “I think that they’re happy that I’m trying to make a difference.”

This year marks the 36th anniversary of the bombing of Pan Am 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, on Dec. 21, 1988. The 2024-25 Remembrance and Lockerbie Scholars have planned events and activities to look back and remember the 270 people who lost their lives in the tragedy, and to educate on the ways they are acting forward.

Remembrance Week, the annual weeklong series of events, will be held Sunday, Oct. 20, through Saturday, Oct. 26. Remembrance Week events are meant to memorialize the victims and further educate the campus community about terrorism. All activities are free and open to the public, unless otherwise noted. For more information, visit .

Those who require accommodations to fully participate in these events should contact Radell Roberts at��315.443.0221 or��rrober02@syr.edu. The schedule is as follows:

��All Week��

• Empty Seats Display, Kenneth A. Shaw Quadrangle:��The Empty Seats Display is a visual representation of the ���ϲ����� students lost aboard Pan Am Flight 103. The exhibition is meant to serve as a reminder of how a loss in the past can inspire positive actions in the present. This year’s Remembrance Scholars will sit in solidarity in the chairs for 35 minutes on Wednesday, Oct. 23, beginning at 2 p.m.
• Pen-and-ink drawings of the ���ϲ����� study abroad student victims will be on display in Hendricks Chapel.
• Blue and white flags, one for each of the 270 Pan Am 103 victims, will be on display in the area between the Newhouse School and Schine Student Center. Also, the Hall of Languages, Hendricks Chapel and the JMA Wireless Dome will be lit in blue in honor of Remembrance Week.

Sunday, Oct. 20

• “Each Moment Radiant,” Hendricks Chapel 4 p.m.: The Malmgren Concert Series will feature the world premiere of “Each Moment Radiant,” a newly commissioned chamber work by composer Kurt Erickson and poet Brian Turner commemorating the Pan Am Flight 103 air disaster. Setnor School of Music faculty and guest musicians will perform Erickson and Turner’s song cycle “Here, Bullet” and Johannes Brahms’ piano trio in C minor.
• “Healing Trauma Through Poetry and Music,” National Veterans Resource Center at the Daniel and Gayle D’Aniello Building, 5:30 p.m.: Composer Kurt Erickson and poet Brian Turner will lead a reception and discussion on the genesis and creative process behind “Here, Bullet” and “Each Moment Radiant.”

These events are co-sponsored by the ���ϲ����� Symposium, the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families, the Office of Veteran and Military Affairs, the Society for New Music, the Setnor School of Music and the Remembrance and Lockerbie Scholars. The commission for “Each Moment Radiant” was made possible through the CNY Arts Grants for Regional Arts and Cultural Engagement regrant program thanks to a New York State Senate Initiative supported by the NYS Legislature, the Office of the Governor and administered by the New York State Council on the Arts.

• , Place of Remembrance, 7 p.m.: The Remembrance and Lockerbie Scholars will begin Remembrance Week activities with a candlelight vigil to remember the 270 victims of Pan Am 103.

Wednesday, Oct. 23

• “Sitting in Solidarity,” Kenneth A. Shaw Quadrangle, 2 p.m.: The Remembrance and Lockerbie scholars will sit in the empty chairs on the Quad for 35 minutes.

Thursday, Oct. 24

• Act Forward Symposium, Huntington Beard Crouse Hall atrium (outside Gifford Auditorium), 7 p.m.: The Remembrance Scholars will present posters that share their plans to “act forward” through outreach, research, education and creative projects designed to benefit the community.
• , Gifford Auditorium, Huntington Beard Crouse Hall, 8 p.m.: An evening of music, poetry, art, dancing and more to honor the victims of Pan Am 103 and to celebrate life alongside the victims’ families and the current scholars. American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation and Communication Access Real-Time Translation (CART) will be available for this event.

Friday, Oct. 25

• “In The Aftermath: Documenting and Researching Victim Support Groups,” Peter Graham Scholarly Commons, 114 Bird Library, and Zoom (), 10 a.m.: A panel discussion focusing on the collection, preservation and use of important records of the aftermath of tragedies and disasters. Organized by the Pan Am Flight 103/Lockerbie Air Disaster Archives at the Special Collections Research Center and moderated by Vanessa St.Oegger-Menn, Pan Am 103 archivist and assistant University archivist. Panelists are Jelena Watkins, co-director of the Centre for Collective Trauma in the United Kingdom and member of the Archiving Disaster Support Group Records project team, and Ezra Rudolph, research associate for Contemporary and Cultural History at the University of Göttingen in Germany. Both will talk about their work and experiences and share insights into the lasting significance and unique challenges of victim support group records in documenting the aftermath of tragic events. A question-and-answer session will follow the moderated discussion. CART will be provided. If you require accessibility accommodations, email Max Wagh at mlwagh@syr.edu by Friday, Oct. 18.
• , Place of Remembrance, 2:03 p.m.: This annual ceremony remembers the 270 people, including 35 students studying abroad through ���ϲ�����, who were killed in the Dec. 21, 1988, bombing. The ceremony also honors 2002-03 Lockerbie Scholar Andrew McClune, who died in 2002. American Sign Language interpretation will be available for this event.
• Remembrance Scholar Convocation, Hendricks Chapel, 3 p.m.: ​This annual convocation will honor the 2024-25 Remembrance and Lockerbie Scholars. ASL interpretation and CART will be available for this event. A reception in the Strasser Legacy Room, 220 Eggers Hall, will immediately follow.

Below, five students share their experiences; what they did and what they learned.

Fulbright Canada-Mitacs Globalink Research Internship

Five ���ϲ����� students were selected as Fulbright Canada-Mitacs Globalink Research Internship recipients this year. They were Sofia DaCruz ’25, a women’s and gender studies and citizenship and civic engagement major in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and the College of Arts and Sciences; (McGill University); Abi Greenfield ’25, a history and political philosophy major in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and College of Arts and Sciences (University of Victoria); Chloe Britton Naime ’25, a mechanical engineering and neuroscience major in the College of Engineering and Computer Science (University of British Columbia); Kerrin O’Grady ’25, a biomedical engineering and neuroscience major in the College of Engineering and Computer Science (University of Victoria); and Kanya Shah ’25, an aerospace engineering major in the College of Engineering and Computer Science (University of Quebec at Chicoutimi).

Abi Greenfield

Greenfield worked with Penny Bryden, professor of history at the University of Victoria. Greenfield was first research assistant on Bryden’s Canadian constitutional culture project; she created a dataset of political cartoons about the Canadian Constitution from five periods in Canadian history.

Abi Greenfield

She mined the databases of past editions of four major Canadian newspapers and developed a dataset of approximately 500 cartoons. “I then analyzed the cartoons from the 1980-82 period to understand what major themes appeared in relation to the Constitution reform debates during this period and what these themes and metaphors demonstrated about public thought around these topics,” Greenfield says. She produced a report for Bryden analyzing four major themes she identified, along with any regional or temporal variations. Greenfield’s research will form part of a forthcoming collaborative article on editorial cartoons and Canadian constitutional culture.

Greenfield says this work strengthened her skills in research design, dataset creation and analysis, and analysis of images as historical documents, as well as deepened her knowledge of Canadian political and legal history.

“This experience has been invaluable in informing the topic and goals of my undergraduate thesis for the Honors program and the Distinction program in History, as well as how I have gone about designing my project,” Greenfield says. “The chance to connect with established scholars in my field helped me to understand the breadth of research areas available to me and led me to change my thesis topic from what I had originally planned.��My improved knowledge of Canadian legal history will also help inform my work as a research assistant on the Global Free Speech Repository Project in the Campbell Institute in the Maxwell School, where I work with Canadian free expression decisions, among others.”

After graduation, Greenfield hopes to return to the University of Victoria to pursue a master’s degree in history under Bryden’s direction.

Kanya Shah

Kanya Shah

Shah interned at the University of Quebec at Chicoutimi (UQAC)’s Anti-Icing Materials Laboratory (LIMA-AMIL), where she worked on the “Evaluating Passive Protection Systems for Solar Panels Against Snow and Ice Accumulations” project. Under the supervision of Research Professor Derek Harvey and with LIMA-AMIL faculty support, she conducted extensive literature review to aid the team in designing a test bench to evaluate the effectiveness of superhydrophobic and icephobic coatings against snow and ice accretion on a solar panel placed in a cold climate chamber.

The freezing rain and snowstorm tests performed honed her laboratory techniques for testing and developing coating application methods to address snow and ice adhesion on solar panels in cold climates.

“This program provided invaluable international research exposure, solidifying my commitment to advancing sustainable solutions in mechanical and aerospace engineering,” Shah says. “As I look ahead, I’m excited to pursue this passion further, either through a master’s program or an industry-related career.”

Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship (SULI)

Corinne Motl ’25, a physics major in the College of Arts and Sciences, engaged in an internship at Argonne National Laboratory this summer through a Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship (SULI) awarded by the U.S. Department of Energy.

Corrine Motl

Quantum networks are of significant interest within the commercial and scientific communities as they hold potential for complete information security, as well as connecting dispersed quantum technologies. Quantum memories are a key part of realizing these networks.

Motl worked on simulations to test parameters when designing a nanophotonic cavity to optimize the quality factor of the cavity. “What this means on a larger scale is that we aim to develop quantum memories that are able to get an input, preserve that single then reemit it. This is a critical part in creating technologies such as quantum repeater,” she says.

“This research involved my simulation work, as well as creating a data analysis software for X-ray detraction (XRD) data. I also worked on creating optical set up as well as alignment and matinee of a separate optical set up,” she says.

Motl says her work at Argonne gave her new skills and helped her develop her problem-solving abilities. “The more problems you solve the better you get at solving new ones. I learned to try to find the simplest solution,” she says.

Motl is currently helping to organize a branch of the 2025 conference, which will be held at ���ϲ����� in January.

Public Policy and International Affairs Junior Summer Institute (PPIA)

Four students were selected as PPIA JSI Fellows this year. They were Linda Baguma ’25, an international relations and political science major in the Maxwell School and College of Arts and Sciences (Carnegie Mellon); Victoria Knight ’25, a policy studies and economics major (pre-law track) in the Maxwell School (UC-Berkeley); Caroline Ridge ’25 a political science and policy studies major in the Maxwell School (Carnegie Mellon) and Evelina Torres ’25, a political science and citizenship and civic engagement major in the Maxwell School (Carnegie Mellon).

Linda Baguma

As part of her PPIA experience, Baguma completed rigorous coursework on quantitative methods, economic analysis and policy research, all aimed at addressing real-world public policy challenges. The program also emphasized diversity in public service and leadership development.

Linda Baguma

Baguma worked on a project analyzing the impact of social policies on low-income communities, using data to evaluate the effectiveness of various poverty reduction programs. “This experience directly complements my studies at ���ϲ�����, especially my concentration in international security and diplomacy within the international relations major,” she says. “I plan to apply the quantitative analysis skills I gained to my coursework, particularly in areas related to policy design and evaluation, and to further explore how international policies impact African development, which is my regional focus.”

She says her experience was made even more meaningful by the opportunity to move beyond the classroom and apply what she learned to real-world challenges. Baguma contributed to an additional project focused on abandoned mine lands (AMLs) in the Pittsburgh area. “Our goal was to analyze the impact of AMLs on surrounding communities, using a variety of data sources to uncover the relationships and effects these sites have on public health, environmental justice and economic outcomes. I even learned how to run regressions to better understand the correlations between AMLs and the well-being of nearby communities,” she says.

Baguma says the PPIA experience gave her a broader understanding of public service. “I’m eager to incorporate this perspective into my academic and professional trajectory, and I look forward to continuing this work as I prepare for a career in public policy, particularly in U.S.-Africa relations,” she says.

Victoria Knight

The UC-Berkeley PPIA program offered a law track that gave Knight valuable insights into succeeding at top law schools. She took four courses: Law and Public Policy, Economics for Public Policy, Policy Analysis and Quantitative Methods for Public Policy.

Victoria Knight

Beyond the classroom, the program provided numerous opportunities to connect with notable alumni and guest speakers, including Dean David Wilson, Robert Reich (former U.S. secretary of labor) and Janet Napolitano (former secretary of Homeland Security and president of the University of California).

“These experiences not only prepared me for law school and a master’s in public policy, but also for my final year at ���ϲ�����. I’m working on my honors thesis, which examines the economic impact of varying abortion laws. The skills I gained through PPIA are invaluable in helping me write a more substantial thesis and better analyze questions at the intersection of law, policy and economics.”

At ���ϲ�����, Knight serves as a task force coordinator for the Skills Win! Coaching Program in the ���ϲ����� City School District, teaching students critical skills like budgeting, typing and public speaking. “Thanks to PPIA, I now have the skills to understand better the impact of New York State education laws, enabling me to analyze the data we collect and recommend meaningful program improvements.”

“The PPIA experience was incredibly eye-opening and rewarding. I’m grateful for the connections I made with the guest speakers and other participants and for everything I learned during the program,” Knight says. “I highly encourage anyone who gets the chance to apply—it was easily one of the most memorable and impactful parts of my college experience.”

A native of Missouri, Phillips earned a bachelor’s degree in agriculture from Northwest Missouri State University in 1957. He earned a master’s degree in theology from Iliff School of Theology in Denver, Colorado, in 1960 and became a Methodist minister.

Phillips and his wife, Ethel, then moved to ���ϲ�����. Phillips served as associate minister at University United Methodist Church while teaching and working on advanced degrees at ���ϲ�����. He earned a master’s degree in religious education in 1963 and a Ph.D. in developmental psychology and curriculum and school programs in 1965.

After earning a Ph.D., Phillips was a member of the faculty of Baker University in Baldwin, Kansas, from 1966-75 and director of the St. Louis-based American Youth Foundation from 1975-81.

Portrait of Richard “Dick” Phillips that is displayed in the narthex of Hendricks Chapel

Phillips was installed as the fourth dean of Hendricks Chapel on April 10, 1981, during the chapel’s 50th anniversary year. His installation signaled a new era at the chapel. Up until that time, the chapel’s deans had served as the preacher of the chapel’s main service on Sunday mornings, which was a Protestant service. Phillips’ role became one of being chief administrator of the chapel, rather than being affiliated with one particular worshipping community. A report written by the late religion professor James Wiggins after a committee study of Hendricks redefined the relationship of the chapel’s dean as a representative of the whole.

Phillips worked to expand Hendricks’ role in the community, telling the ���ϲ����� Herald-Journal at the time of his installation, “We have to be out in the community doing relevant things.”

The ���ϲ����� Post-Standard reported that during his installation address, Phillips removed his shoes and placed them next to the podium as he talked about Moses and the biblical story of the burning bush.

“God instructed Moses to take the shoes off from his feet, because the ground upon which he was standing was holy ground,” Phillips said. “Theologically and vocationally, I believe the ground on which I am standing is holy ground. … You, the learners and the teachers and friends and neighbors from far and near are the sacred ground upon which I stand.”

“I think the thing to think about in Hendricks is that even though Dick operated under the new formalized structure, Hendricks Chapel really during that time came even closer to its full mission, because it was always built as an interfaith space,” says Thomas V. Wolfe, dean emeritus of Hendricks Chapel who succeeded Phillips in 1999 and served in the role until 2012. “Even in the 1930s, when mainline Protestantism was in its heyday, the chapel was always making space, as was the University, for the array of people of different faiths. Dick’s tenure was the first that had that array as part of their work. He was tasked with enriching and developing that strategy.”

Phillips was integral in the establishment of the University’s Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration on campus in the mid-1980s, a signature, communitywide event, which to this day continues to be one of the largest University celebrations of Dr. King in the nation.

Phillips was dean when 35 ���ϲ����� students were killed in the terrorist bombing of Pan Am 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, in December 1988, and he was key in planning the January 1989 service held in the then-Carrier Dome. He took a two-year leave of absence from the chapel to serve as director of the ���ϲ����� Abroad center in Strasbourg, France, from 1995-97.

“I am profoundly grateful that I got to work with him,” Wolfe says. “There are many of us that have appreciated his faithful presence to both ���ϲ����� as an institution and to continuing to strengthen the tradition of meaningful interfaith relationships. The chapel has always stood in the middle of the Quad to represent that.”

“Dean Phillips was widely regarded as a faithful and fruitful leader, both on and off campus, and we give thanks for his remarkable life and legacy,” says Brian Konkol, vice president and dean of Hendricks Chapel. “As we reflect upon his profound impact and the countless ways he enriched our campus community, I believe we are reminded that Hendricks Chapel is far more than a beautiful building, as Hendricks Chapel is—and always will be—about wonderful people such as Dick Phillips. May the Phillips family and all who grieve his passing receive the fullness of comfort and strength.”

In retirement, Phillips wrote “Hendricks Chapel: Seventy-five Years of Service to ���ϲ�����” (���ϲ����� Press, 2005), a comprehensive look at the chapel’s history, and another book on Methodist theologian Harvey Pottoff.

Phillips was predeceased by his wife, Ethel, in June 2023. He is survived by their children, Cindy and Ken.

Donations in Phillips’ memory may be made to .

“We are very excited to welcome over 5,700 family members and supporters to campus to celebrate Family Weekend,” says Missy Mathis-Hanlon, director of . “While Family Weekend is a tradition that dates back to the 1950s, we hope that today’s programming illustrates for families how focusing on the student experience both inside and outside the classroom is a winning combination for success throughout their student’s life.”

Otto joins a family for the celebration of 2023 Family Weekend. (Photo by Jeremy Brinn)

Family Weekend 2024

A wide variety of activities will be held throughout the weekend; registered families should check in at the tent in the Skytop parking lot. We’ve included some of the event highlights below; visit the for the complete list of activities.

• Study Abroad Fair, Friday, Sept. 27 from 1-3 p.m., Milton Atrium, Life Sciences Building.
• Student Experience Showcase, featuring a wide range of topics such as Career Services, Getting Involved and Greek Life, Friday, Sept. 27, 3:30-5 p.m. Visit the for times and locations of specific sessions.
• Celebration of Identity, Friday, Sept. 27, 5-7 p.m., Barner-McDuffie House, 113 Euclid Ave., and Native Student Programs, 113 Euclid Ave.
• An A Cappella Evening, Friday, Sept. 27, 8 p.m., Goldstein Auditorium, Schine Student Center.
• Schine Takeover, Friday, Sept. 27, 9-11 p.m., Schine Student Center
• School and College Welcomes, Saturday, Sept. 28, 9-10:30 a.m. Visit the for times and locations of specific sessions.
• ���ϲ����� Orange vs. Holy Cross football game, Saturday, Sept. 28, noon, JMA Wireless Dome (game is sold out).
• Drive-In Movie at Skytop, “Inside Out 2,” Saturday, Sept. 28, 9 p.m., Skytop parking lot.
• Family Weekend Fun Run, Sunday, Sept. 29, 9 a.m., Inn Complete, South Campus (must be registered to participate).
• South Campus Showcase, Sun., Sept. 29, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., with self-guided tours of the Goldstein Student Center, South Campus apartment tours at 321 Winding Ridge Road and a session on apartment and off-campus living at noon at the Skybarn.

University community members gather with InclusiveU students and their families in Huntington Hall to make signs for game day.

Download the OrangeNow Mobile App to Plan Your Weekend

OrangeNow, the official ���ϲ����� mobile app, includes a Family Weekend guide for parents and families that provides convenient, on-the-go access to:

• check-in, parking and shuttle information; and
• the events calendar for the weekend, which can be used to plot out a customized schedule by favoriting the events you want to attend.

Download OrangeNow on the or and you’ll be ready to make the most of your weekend on campus!

Allen Groves

The Gold Medal, which dates to 1940, is presented for lifelong service to the interfraternal community and is the highest interfraternal honor the NIC bestows.��In an NIC press release announcing the award, Groves was called an “ardent supporter of the fraternal experience.”

“I’ve always believed the fraternity and sorority experience can be a very positive part of a student’s involvement outside the classroom when it’s undertaken consistent with each organization’s expressed values and the host institution’s policies,” says Groves. “I know it was a transformative experience for me as a student and I formed many strong friendships that have lasted a lifetime.”

“Allen has provided encouragement, comfort, wise counsel and at times tough love to more fraternity men than one could possibly remember. In my over 25 years working with fraternities and fraternity men, there are very few men who match both the experience, character and intellect of Allen Groves,” says Justin Buck, Pi Kappa Alpha executive vice president and chair of the NIC Governing Council.

Groves was initiated into Pi Kappa Alpha’s (PIKE) Delta Upsilon chapter at Stetson University in 1979. Following graduation, he spent time on the PIKE staff and served as executive director from 1984-87. Groves holds a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law. Following his tenure with PIKE, he embarked upon a 16-year career as a litigation attorney, in which he was nationally recognized for his work.

After retiring from his legal career, Groves transitioned back to student affairs at the University of Virginia, where he served as the university’s dean of students for 14 years. In 2021, he became ���ϲ�����’s senior vice president and chief student experience officer. In his role, he oversees more than 20 operational units dedicated to the student experience.

Groves’ service spans 10 years on Pi Kappa Alpha’s International Fraternity Supreme Council, including as international president from 2004-06; six years on the NIC Board of Directors, serving as board chairman from 2012-14; the Virginia’s Governor’s Task Force on Combating Campus Sexual Assault from 2014-15; and Stetson University College of Arts and Sciences Board from 2013-18; among other affiliations.

Richard N. McKaig, retired vice chancellor for student affairs and dean of students at Indiana University, was also named a Gold Medal honoree.

Kathryn Bradford, right, greets a new student and her family at Day Hall. (Photo by Charles Wainwright)

Bradford, a budget analyst with the ���ϲ�����CoE, has volunteered with Welcome Week for the past six years. In her role as a move-in captain, she is one of the first people that eager first-year students—and their parents and families—engage with as they begin their journey at ���ϲ�����.

It’s a role that Bradford—a 27-year employee of the University—relishes. For the first 20 years of her tenure at the University, Bradford worked in the textbook division of the Campus Store. The nature of that job, with the busiest times being at the start of each semester, meant that she wasn’t able to break away to volunteer.

Her most recent job at the Shaw Center, where she oversaw operations of the center, supervised the leadership internship program and directly coached and mentored more than 25 undergraduate interns, gave her that chance.

“The Shaw Center gave me the opportunity to join Welcome Week,” she says. Her Shaw Center colleagues Pamela Kirwin Heintz, associate vice president and director; Carla Ramírez, assistant director; and Laurel Morton, coordinator, provided the support for her to be out of the office for Welcome Week. “They saw the importance of me being involved in this,” she says.

Kathryn Bradford confers with Welcome Week student volunteers (Photo by Charles Wainwright)

Bradford was at Day Hall for three days last week, sun-up to sundown. “I love the interaction with the students and helping them get the best start possible,” she says.

In her role as move-in captain, she is the go-to person to smooth out any problems that arise. “All of the faculty and staff volunteers check in with me to get an overview of what’s happening and what the system is, to make sure we are collaborating with the Department of Public Safety and Parking and Transportation Services staff on site; to make sure that we are all on the same page,” she says.

Bradford is there to keep the staff in the residence hall apprised of what is happening outside, and support the orientation leaders and Goon Squad volunteers, who she describes as “phenomenal.”

One of the biggest challenges during move-in, she says, is keeping things moving. Cars are unloading in building fire lanes, which means a licensed driver who is in possession of the car keys must remain with the vehicle at all times. It’s a mix of logistics and people skills to gently guide families through this process, being sensitive to emotions and respecting the family experience while keeping the well-oiled machine moving forward, Bradford says.

Kathryn Bradford (Photo by Charles Wainwright)

One important part of the move-in experience for Bradford is to let students and families know she is a resource. “I always have my business cards on me, and I encourage students and families to contact me if I can help in any way.” As a parent, she knows that a little reassurance often goes a long way. The students she has helped to move in have often crossed paths with her later on as orientation leaders or Goon Squad volunteers or in her work with the Shaw Center.

She also is happy to connect with campus faculty and staff that she otherwise may not have met. “There are many people from across campus that I maybe wouldn’t have met, and we can stay connected and collaborate simply from going through that move in experience,” she says.

Bradford plans to continue volunteering for Welcome Week well into the future. “I love interacting with families and assuring them that their student is in good hands. It’s just fun—the excitement, the energy … anytime you can spend a couple days smiling all day long and just being happy … bring it on.”

“I am by no means an expert on the topic of joy, but I do recognize that our personal and professional lives are intimately intertwined, and I do wonder about how to be joyful even in the midst of challenging circumstances,” says Hendricks Chapel , who leads the online session. “I suppose one of the reasons the workshop has become popular is that each participant is welcomed as an authority of their experience, together we discover how to perceive those experiences in different ways, and together we discern how professional achievement and personal joy can best grow together.”

When talking about how to find joy in professional life, Konkol begins with the image of an old-school thermostat.

Konkol uses a thermostat metaphor to teach about joy.

“I think it’s a powerful image and recognizes that each and every one of us—as leaders, as professionals—are thermostats,” he says. “A thermometer only takes the temperature, but a thermostat is about changing the conditions that offer an environment by which you and others can thrive. It’s about putting your hand on the dial and changing the temperature, to create the conditions that move a couple of degrees towards joy.”

Konkol offers one-hour virtual workshops for members of the campus community—from faculty and staff to alumni—on how to find joy in the work they do each day. He will offer the workshop again on from noon to 1 p.m. (in partnership with the Office of Human Resources) and in January (in partnership with the Office of Alumni Engagement).

Through the teachings of various leaders, such as the Dalai Lama and the late Desmond Tutu’s collaboration on “The Book of Joy,” Konkol shows the difference between happiness and joy, and how joy can be embraced and shared even during the storms of personal and professional life. When speaking to the specifics of a workplace environment, Konkol says, “Happiness is often temporary and based on something happening to you, while joy is about sustained purpose and meaning, including the meaning we can find during difficulties. I suppose happiness is a moment and joy is more of a movement.”

During his most recent workshop, Konkol offered participants five steps for finding professional joy:

1. Stop hoping for a better past. “So many of us, including me, have watched the ‘Back to the Future’ movies and ever since have been praying for the time machine to show up, take us back in time and undo that really stupid thing we did! Because, wow, we wish we could do that over. I have yet to receive that time machine and I have found that hoping for a better past has generally been a waste of time. We can learn from our past, but we can’t change it. We can receive insights from our past while not being trapped by our past.”

2. Choose to be kind, anyway. “I think the most important part is ‘comma, anyway.’ We cannot control how others act, but we can control how we respond, and if we are only kind to those who are kind to us, then we are thermometers and not thermostats. I have come to believe that kindness, while often seen as weakness, actually requires a great deal of strength, and I think that one of the ways that we experience joy in our lives is through the choice to be kind.”

Brian Konkol

Konkol tells the story of Steve Wilkinson, the legendary tennis coach at Gustavus Adolphus College in Minnesota. Wilkinson built a whole philosophy around tennis and developed a camp called Tennis and Life. “He wraps all these messages around the game, and one of them is ‘you can’t control what people serve to you, but you can control what you return,'” Konkol says. He also references the given by , professor of English in the College of Arts and Sciences, at ���ϲ�����’s 2013 Commencement, which attracted global attention. “Never underestimate the strength of kindness,” Konkol says.

3. Replace “but” with “and.” Here, Konkol envisions an old-school gumball machine. “I think about the colors of the different gumballs representing all the different things that we experience on a given day. Things that are happy, things that are sad, things that are wonderful, things that are terrible. People that are kind, that are cruel, communities that are divided, communities that are united. Every one of those colors on those gumballs represent life,” he says.

When he counsels people who are struggling, Konkol offers this advice: “There’s no ‘but,’ it’s ‘and.’�� We can experience a whole menu of emotions all at once. We can have joy when we stop apologizing for whatever it is that we’re feeling, and instead learn how to best embrace what we are feeling and explore how to use all we are feeling to create and sustain something good for us and for others,” he says.

“If you stand on the main stage of Hendricks Chapel and look toward the front door, you see text on the rim of the chapel’s ceiling. If you look immediately to your right, there is an ampersand, the symbol for ‘and.’ And if you look immediately to your left, there is also an ampersand. When you stand at the center of the stage looking outward, you literally physically stand in between the ‘ands,’” he says. “Paradox is quite remarkable. Instead of either/or, we can embrace both/and. Division and unity, happiness and sadness, joy and despair. We can exist with the fullness of our humanity,” he says.

4. Be a role model, not a role mirror. “How do we model the type of world we want to live in and not mirror the world that we do live in? Model, not mirror. Thermostat, not thermometer. I think it’s important for us to consider our habits and ask ourselves, how are they working for us? How are we impacting others? Part of the way we experience joy professionally is modeling, not mirroring, how to exist in community. I’m convinced in our professional lives when we’re role models and not role mirrors, when we’re thermostats and not thermometers, it creates positive change, not just for a moment but for a movement,” Konkol says.

5. Call people in instead of calling people out. “Instead of pointing a finger at someone, why not use those fingers to wave people in? One of the ways I think we experience joy is by welcoming people into the conversation, especially those with whom we disagree. Oftentimes we think about people we disagree with, kind of like we think about trash, and we just want to throw them out. What I appreciate about that metaphor is, you never actually throw anything out, we only throw it out of sight. It’s never actually gone. It’s the same with people. They’re there, so why not call people into a conversation, into a relationship? Empathy is important here. Where we can engage with curiosity rather than judgment, where we can listen to understand instead of respond,” Konkol says.

“I find that these five steps are in many ways like turning a dial of joy in our professional lives,” Konkol says. “So many people are dealing with so much in their lives. I am convinced that seeking joy is one of the ways we can actually make the world a far better place, especially for those who are struggling.”

At the conclusion of his presentation, Konkol suggests not writing out a “to-do” list, but a “to-be” list. “Write out five things that say ‘who must I be today?’ Perhaps I can say I’m going to be energetic, I’m going to be kind, I’m going to be strong, I’m going to be strategic,” he says. “A ‘to-be’ list allows us to live with a sense of intention and provides us with the opportunity to see that joy is not about waiting for the rain to stop, but it’s about learning to dance in the rain. It is saying ‘here’s who I’m called to be today.’ Regardless of what the temperature is, it’s saying ‘This is how I choose to show up in the world. This is who I choose to be.'”

“I’m convinced that each and every person, in their own way can turn that dial. You can be a thermostat and not a thermometer, and bring some joy to your life, bring some joy to your world,” Konkol says. “So that all those around you can change the dials of their professional lives and turn them just a couple degrees towards joy.”

Presenters and attendees at the 2023 SOURCE Symposium

Hua, a nutrition science major in the , has investigated the effects of fish oil on paternal obesity and its impact on offspring muscle function. Ross, a neuroscience and psychology major in the , has studied the impact of Cited2 excision and maternal folic acid supplementation among mice on neurodevelopment. And Lu, a music composition major in the (VPA), has worked with music ensembles and experienced the premieres of two of his original compositions.

They are among the more than 250 students who have actively participated in research this summer—both in-person and remotely—through initiatives of the ���ϲ����� Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Engagement (SOURCE) and other programs, including the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP); Chemistry, iSchool, and BioInspired Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) programs; the SUNY Upstate Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program; the McNair Scholars Program; the psychology SPARC and STAHR programs; Renée Crown University Honors Program; Women in Science and Engineering (WISE)-supported students and others.

As a culmination of their experiences, the —a poster session featuring more than 110 undergraduate research students, will be held Thursday, Aug. 8, from 10 a.m. to noon in the Schine Student Center’s Panasci Lounge. A picnic will follow on the patio of Huntington Beard Crouse Hall. .

Some of the posters that will be presented include:

• Mercury Release From Alaskan Permafrost
• The Role of the Kit Tyrosine Pathway in Primordial Follicle Formation and Cyst Breakdown
• The Effects of the Post-Mating Immune Response in Drosophila on Female Fecundity
• ���ϲ����� Policy Legacy Project
• Testing the Hydropathy of Synthetic RNA
• Polyurethane Foams for Hemorrhage Control
• Supporting Healthcare Outcomes and Access for Refugees
• Effects of I-81 Highway Construction on Freshwater Streams in the Valley Neighborhood of ���ϲ�����
• Role of Rab GTPase-Mediated Ciliary Cargo Transport in Cilia formation and Cellular Polarity
• Validating Hydraulic Flood Control Risk Assessment Using High Resolution Satellite Imagery

“Summer research students make great strides in their research skill-building during these few short months; they explore fascinating topics, engage with existing work, try new methods and techniques and experience deep immersion and focus in their work,” says SOURCE Director Kate Hanson. “We are thrilled to learn about research at the Summer Symposium and grateful to the mentors that have supported them.”

Xuezhu (Stephanie) Hua ’25

Stephanie Hua

Hua’s research is inspired by the obesity epidemic. “Obesity is a growing concern, with two in five people in the U.S. affected. It not only diminishes quality of life but also has lasting effects on the health of future generations,” Hua says. “In our research explores the potential of fish oil supplementation in mitigating the detrimental, we focus on using fish oil as a dietary intervention for obese fathers.”

Hua and her colleagues have found that a father’s high-fat diet during the preconception period significantly impacts the muscle health of their offspring, potentially decreasing muscle function. Conversely, when the father follows a low-fat diet during the preconception period, the offspring’s muscle health is more influenced by their own diet. “Moving forward, I will employ an analysis of variance test to determine if fish oil supplementation can reverse the adverse effects of a father’s high-fat diet on offspring,” she says.

“I would like to express my gratitude to the SOURCE, Renée Crown University Honors Program and WiSE for sponsoring my research. This invaluable experience has allowed me to ask scientific questions, grapple with challenges and find solutions,” Hua says. “What drives me is the potential impact of my research on people’s lives. To me, research is about serving the community. This experience has been instrumental to me in preparing for my Ph.D. studies in obesity and metabolism.”

Hua’s faculty mentor is , assistant professor of nutrition and food studies in the Falk College.

Edward Lu ’26

Lu says his music composition research this summer has provided him with some of the most artistically fulfilling experiences in his career. He attended the Connecticut Summerfest and the Imani Winds Chamber Music Festival at the Juilliard School as a part of their Emerging Composers Program.

Edward Lu (photo by Isaac Schwalbe)

“Both of these festivals were incredible, and they each provided a diverse array of insights into the business of composition and chamber music,” Lu says.

He traveled to Connecticut in June for a week of lectures, presentations, rehearsals, concerts and recording sessions. “I was paired with ~Nois, a saxophone quartet based in Chicago, who were an absolute joy to work with,” Lu says. “They premiered my piece, ‘Leaf Litter,’ and we also shot a separate professional video/audio recording with the Kinsmen Sound Studio. I loved how much creative liberty I was given during this process, and how much they valued my artistic input. Additionally, I enjoyed getting to know the other ensembles-in-residence.”

In July, Lu spent 10 days in New York City, attending lectures and masterclasses with Imani Winds and the composer-in-residence, Jessica Meyer, as well as other visiting composition faculty. “I was paired with Nimbus Winds, a student wind quintet, and we spent the week rehearsing and workshopping my piece ‘Cloud Shapes,’ which was premiered at Juilliard’s Morse Recital Hall on Aug. 3.” He also had the opportunity to present “Leaf Litter” in a masterclass and share his work from Connecticut Summerfest, bringing his summer research full circle.

“At both festivals, I met a lot of amazing people and built lasting and meaningful relationships while learning important skills such as outreach and finding my musical voice and message,” Lu says. “Additionally, I now have two new pieces and recordings to add to my portfolio. Most importantly, I’ve made colleagues and friends in the field of chamber music that will last my entire lifetime. I’m eternally grateful to SOURCE for making these experiences possible for me.”

Lu’s faculty mentor is , associate professor and chair of music composition, theory and history in VPA’s Setnor School of Music.

Kaniya Ross ’25

Ross’s project is specifically investigating the impact of Cited2 excision and maternal folic acid

Kaniya Ross

supplementation among mice on neurodevelopment. Loss of Cited2 (knockout) has been known to cause disruptions in brain development such as neural tube defects, reduced cortical thickness that can lead to microcephaly, and heart and lung defects.

“Based on preliminary research, prepartum folic acid supplementation has been linked to a reduction in�� neural tube defects like exencephaly. It has also been linked to rescuing reductions in cortical thickness seen with Cited2 knockout,” says Ross. Her team uses immunohistochemistry (IHC) analysis and cell counting to measure whether reduced cortical thickness is due to increased cell density or decreased cells overall following Cited2 knockout and maternal folic acid supplementation. As microcephaly is linked to learning and memory deficits, they also do novel object recognition testing to measure changes in both following maternal folic acid supplementation.

“This project is deeply connected with my future endeavors as a pediatric neurologist who will continue doing research on neurodevelopmental disorders as well as providing affordable care and treatments in my own private practice,” Ross says.

Ross has worked with faculty mentor , associate professor of biology in the College of Arts and Sciences, and graduate student Sara Brigida.

Additional events featuring undergraduate research include the 2024 McNair Summer Research Symposium, which will be held Aug. 9 from 10 a.m.to 3 p.m. in 331 Sims Hall. The Psychology SPARC-STAHR & iSchool REU Program Symposium was held on July 25.

What does the world’s attention, and huge influx of visitors, mean for these grand architectural sites? Jess Myers, assistant professor in the , looks at the issue through an urban planning lens. Myers lived in Paris in 2012 when the Summer Olympics were held in nearby London.

While hosting the Games is a huge coup for the host city, it is also a huge challenge, particularly regarding infrastructure.

“Hosting the Olympics is a big deal, but it can also be an urban development disaster for cities if they’re not careful about it,” Myers says. “The danger is that you build up a lot of new infrastructure, then don’t end up using it afterward in everyday urban life, or those things end up being abandoned where they could have been repurposed into housing, a new subway line or something to that effect.”

In the case of London, much of the main Olympics infrastructure was located around the periphery, so the city center was not tied up with the security mechanisms that accompany the Games. “You could still walk around and experience the city’s iconic architecture,” Myers says.

This year’s Games—and Paris—present different challenges. Conflict around the world has resulted in extraordinary security at the Olympics. As some events are happening at the landmarks—beach volleyball at the Eiffel Tower and equestrian events at Versailles for instance—the experience of these landmarks is affected.

Jess Myers (Photo by Farideh Sakhaeifar)

“The beautiful, fabulous thing about Parisian monuments is that they’re very much integrated into the urban fabric of the city,” Myers says. “You can take a casual free walk down the river Seine and see incredible things. You see the Eiffel Tower, you see the Grand Palais and the Petit Palais. You see the Invalides, you see the beautiful Pont Alexandre III. There is a continuity in the urban fabric. With the security mechanisms put in place, all of that linearity, the way that Paris is a walking city, gets truncated and split up. So rather than seeing the monuments as things that are flowing within an urban fabric, you see them as these objects through security fencing.”

Bringing the events into the city has taken the focus off the periphery, which is where immigrant communities have historically made their home. “These spaces are also beautiful, and people who live there are proud of these places,” Myers says. “By not celebrating the periphery, you lose out on being able to celebrate what all of those communities have brought to Paris, which is so much cultural and political energy and modernization.”

Holding events at historic landmarks, such as the Eiffel Tower and Versailles is a great celebration of Paris (think of medal winners posing for photographs at these grand sites), but restricts access to these sites to ticketholders.

“You don’t have that very Parisian happening, that idea that you are walking and just stumble upon something that’s quite striking,” Myers says. “Those are excellent images for tourism, but the downside is also for small businesses who experience a drop in foot traffic.”

Not only do these iconic landmarks serve as locations and backdrops for Olympic events, they will live on after the Games have ended on medals and commemorative coins.

“The Eiffel Tower is a commercial symbol of Paris, and it’s one of those things that’s often more celebrated internationally than it necessarily is in the everyday life of the city,” Myers says. “It is used to represent France in a way that is quite general and doesn’t necessarily get to the specificity of what the city is. This is the nature of trying to put together a unified national vision instead of celebrating the quirks and the specificities of Paris.”

“It seems like while there is a celebration of these beautiful Parisian monuments, there’s also a desire to almost remove them from their context as if they’re hovering just above the city. And that feels to me like a missed opportunity,” Myers says.

What will Myers, a former track runner, be watching during these Paris Games? “I love [U.S. athlete and women’s 100-meter competitor] Sha’Carri Richardson. Also, the women’s Jamaican track team is incredible. I hope we’ll see some very special efforts in track this year,” Myers says.

More about Myers’ experience in Paris can be found in her podcast, “.”

Professors Karin Ruhlandt, Shobha Bhatia, Eleanor Maine and Suzanne Baldwin participate in a Women in Science and Engineering panel discussion this past spring.

Four women STEM faculty members, all longtime members of the University community, have recently retired with emerita status, but they leave behind a significant legacy—as valuable researchers, dedicated teachers and inspiring mentors to the next generation.

Suzanne Baldwin, Shobha Bhatia, Eleanor Maine and Karin Ruhlandt are renowned in their respective science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. They were key leaders in establishing the University’s Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE) initiative and growing it into the strong support network it is today.

In the spring, they were celebrated for their distinguished careers during a WiSE reception and panel discussion.

“These four women are an inspiration to us all,” says Kate Lewis, Laura J. and L. Douglas Meredith Professor of Teaching Excellence and professor of biology in the College of Arts and Sciences. “They have had, and are continuing to have, a tremendous impact on their respective fields and STEM in general, here at ���ϲ����� and also internationally—through their research, their mentoring of students and colleagues and their work for diversity, equity and inclusion.”

Below, the four faculty members reflect on their careers and the importance of mentoring younger faculty members to help them reach their fullest potential.

Suzanne Baldwin, Thonis Family Professor Emerita: Thermochronology and Tectonics, Department of Earth Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences

Baldwin retired in January after 24 years as a faculty member. The roots of her career in STEM were planted during her college years, when she had to make a decision whether to pursue a dance major or science major.

Suzanne Baldwin

“They are certainly very different fields,” Baldwin says. “I always loved science, so I took a bunch of science courses—physics, math, chemistry and biology—and didn’t really settle on any one science. I ended up taking a geology course and then I was hooked.”

Baldwin loved field trips and being outdoors, working to find out how the Earth evolved. “It was really my curiosity and passion that led me down this path,” she says. “I’ve never looked back.” She earned an M.Sc. degree and a Ph.D. at the State University of New York University at Albany.

Her research has focused on how the Earth’s plate boundaries evolve over time, in particular around the Pacific Rim. That research has led to a number of discoveries in Papua New Guinea, for example. Baldwin has conducted field work globally, including in Antarctica. “The Earth is my lab,” she says.

Along with her research group, Baldwin built the internationally recognized ���ϲ����� Noble Gas Isotopic Research Laboratory (SUNGIRL), which she directed for 23 years. Baldwin and her team studied noble gases in minerals from Earth and lunar samples to reveal their thermal histories. She is proud of the research community she built, providing opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students, postdocs, faculty and visiting researchers.

She is also proud of the community that has been built through WiSE, especially her role in leading the Faculty Peer Mentoring Committee. Her desire to help and mentor other faculty comes from challenges she experienced throughout her career.

There were times when, because of her responsibilities, Baldwin was not able to be as active in WiSE as she wanted. But she always made sure that her students, post docs and lab manager, attended and benefited from WiSE programs. “We’ve seen over the years that many of the programs started in WiSE have expanded to help the entire University community,” Baldwin says. “So that’s been very gratifying.”

Baldwin was elected a fellow of the Geological Society of America in 2005 and was the inaugural Marie Tharp Fellow at the Earth Institute of Columbia University in 2006. She was awarded ���ϲ�����’s Chancellor’s Citation in 2010. She was appointed the inaugural Susan G. and Michael T. Thonis Professor of Earth Sciences in 2014.

In retirement, she continues to conduct research and mentor students, and is returning to writing projects. In June 2025, she will co-convene an international conference on her research specialty (eclogites) in Sonoma, California. It will be the first time the International Eclogite Conference will be hosted in the United States.

“Basically, I’m doing everything that brings me joy,” she says. “I’m proud of so many things that I’ve accomplished. I’m not done yet.”

Shobha Bhatia, professor emerita of civil and environmental engineering, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Bhatia, who retires in August, has been a member of the faculty for 42 years. As a child, she had a natural affinity for math and science. When it came time to choose a path for college, she decided she did not want to follow in the footsteps of her older sister, who was in medical school.

Shobha Bhatia

“I made the decision to carve my own path,” she says, and she chose engineering. Her uncle was a civil engineer and took her to his work sites. “I like working with soil; I thought this is a great profession. And so I chose civil engineering, following his path,” she says.

After completing undergraduate and master’s degree studies in India, Bhatia worked for two years at an earthquake engineering research institute on projects with a nuclear power plant and an oil refinery. “At the time, I didn’t realize how important those projects were and the kind of training and experience I got,” she says.

Bhatia came to Canada in the late 1970s as a Commonwealth Scholar at the University of British Columbia. She worked in a lab with six research scientists from Japan; she was the only student. Instead of being intimidated, she formed good, collaborative working relationships with the others in the lab. “They were wonderful mentors,” she says.

“Since joining ���ϲ�����, I have a chance to work on many exciting projects with my students and with colleagues, and I am very proud of what we have been able to produce,” she says. Bhatia received a Chancellor’s Citation for Faculty Excellence and Scholarly Distinction and designation as a Laura J. and L. Douglas Meredith Professor of Teaching Excellence, and this past April, received the Chancellor’s Citation Lifetime Achievement Award during the One University Celebration.

There have been challenging times for Bhatia early in her academic career, particularly in being the first female full professor in the College of Engineering and Computer Science. “I didn’t know who to talk to, who to really go to for advice, so it was a very isolating experience,” she says. “I now have wonderful colleagues here in engineering and in the STEM disciplines across campus.”

That was the impetus to start WiSE in 1999. At the time, Bhatia was department chair of civil and environmental engineering. She worked with Cathryn Newton, dean emerita of the College of Arts and Sciences and then professor and chair of Earth sciences, to write the grant proposal for funding and get WiSE off the ground.

“Now, after 25 years, WiSE is a vibrant community of extraordinary faculty, post-docs, graduate and undergraduate students. Not only have we maintained that community, but it has grown,” she says. “It’s ever evolving because there are so many people involved. It remains really vibrant.”

As she reflects on her career, she is proud of what she helped to build. “I feel this is my university. I’m not just coming to work, I’m contributing to something that is mine. And I think if you create that kind of network of students and colleagues around you, work becomes a pleasure,” she says.

While Bhatia will greatly miss her students and colleagues, she says it’s time to move on to the next phase of her life. “It has been a wonderful experience, but I think it is time to give the baton to other people who can run with it. I need to move on to the next phase of my life.”

In retirement, Bhatia and her husband, Tej Bhatia, who has also just retired from his faculty position in the College of Arts and Sciences, plan to continue working on projects they have underway. She will be presenting the first of four keynote lectures at Geotechnical Frontiers in March 2025 and will start her work as a consultant for a World Bank-funded project with the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, India, in 2025.

Eleanor Maine, professor emerita of biology, College of Arts and Sciences

Eleanor Maine

Maine retired in May after a 34-year career on the faculty. As a child, she was drawn to the natural world, and both of her parents had science backgrounds. She found her passion in her introductory biology class in college. “The first thing we studied was animal development, and I just loved it,” Maine says. She didn’t start her college journey aiming to be a professor, but that is where her path led her after earning a Ph.D. at Princeton and postdoctoral fellowships at Princeton and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Her research interests include genetic regulation of development, cell-signaling, germline development and RNA silencing, and the Maine lab’s research team studied how cells and tissues form during animal development. Beyond the successes realized in her lab and the publications she got out, one of her greatest joys has been working with students, “just seeing them blossom,” she says.

One of her greatest challenges was the social side of being a professor. “I had zero training in teaching, so I really had to become a more outgoing person,” she says. It was all about a delicate balance of nurturing students who felt that they could do everything themselves to those who needed constant reassurance, and everyone in between. “That was a big challenge,” Maine says. “Most of the time it worked out, and I am proud of that.” Maine was the 2022 recipient of the William Wasserstrom Prize for the Teaching of Graduate Students.

“I think for me, the important thing is building community,” Maine says. “I’d been here many years when WiSE was founded, but still it was so helpful to meet women scientists in engineering and other departments in arts and sciences.”

“I was also very much wanting to foster an easier, more welcoming atmosphere for new faculty in general,” Maine says. “It’s helpful to talk with other people about these things, like difficult conversations with people.”

For many years, Maine was one of three women in the biology department. She says that over the years, she has seen silos come down. “I feel that there’s more acceptance of different research and teaching styles than when I came here,” Maine says. “And also more acceptance of ongoing outside obligations that some people have.” She has also witnessed more collaboration between departments and schools and colleges.

In retirement, Maine will continue to work on projects. Once a professor, always a professor.

Karin Ruhlandt, Distinguished Professor Emerita of Chemistry and Dean Emerita, College of Arts and Sciences

Ruhlandt was a member of the faculty for 31 years before retiring in May.

Karin Ruhlandt

A native of Germany, Ruhlandt grew up being fascinated by nature. What she loved even more, though, was art history and literature. She found resistance from her father in pursuing that passion. “Even finishing high school, he said, ‘Why are you doing this? You’re going to get married anyway, why bother?’ Ruhlandt found support from her mother in pushing back. When it came time to enter university, her father relented somewhat—under the condition that Ruhlandt pursue a field that he felt would keep a roof over her head and fed. To him, that was not art history and literature.

“So I became a chemist, it was really that. I must admit that I struggled with it a lot,” she says. At the time, there were a few other fellow female students but no role models in the professoriate. All courses were taught by men.

After earning a Dr. rer. nat. (the Ph.D. equivalent) in chemistry from Philips University in Marburg, Germany, she came to the United States to pursue postdoctoral work at the University of California, Davis. It was in her research that Ruhlandt began to truly find her passion for chemistry. She found a supportive advisor in California who gave her the independence within his lab to pursue the research she wanted to do. That freedom also had a downside. While she and her advisor were incredibly productive, publishing more than 30 papers together, she did the experimental work and data collection. “When I became a faculty member I regretted it, because there were certain aspects of the job I never learned. I had never written in my life a paper before,” she says.

Ruhlandt’s research specialty is the chemistry of highly reactive metals and their applications in such areas as computer memory and bone therapeutics. In 2009, she was appointed Distinguished Professor—the only female on campus to receive such an honor in the sciences—and chair of the Department of Chemistry, the latter of which she held until 2014. Named dean of the College of Arts and Sciences in 2015, Ruhlandt led A&S until 2022.

She is proud of the work she did as dean to enhance the student experience in A&S. Her accomplishments that are evident today in the retention of international students and students winning nationally competitive scholarships and awards, as well as gains in research, funding and admissions. Ruhlandt also laid the groundwork for a program in Madrid to allow science students to study abroad.

When she started at the University in 1993 as an assistant professor, she was the only woman faculty member in the department for eight years.

As with the other professors, Ruhlandt’s work as a co-founder of WiSE has been very important to her. “I find it incredibly important to show young scientists what is possible despite the obstacles. That is what I’m really passionate about,” she says.

Mentorship, she says, is also about showing young faculty members how to navigate through their careers. “That, I think, is what really is ultimately driving my passion for WiSE, and also making sure that they don’t feel isolated. … That there is a support network and that they see it’s not just them doing what they’re doing and that there are others who share their values and their passions,” Ruhlandt says.

Ruhlandt is proud that the support network that she and her colleagues built 25 years ago is still strong today. “I’m incredibly proud of the women we have hired over the last few years. They are incredibly successful in bringing in funding and writing really high-profile research publications,” she says. “The caliber of the papers produced is astonishing. We have hired incredibly good women, and they need to be nurtured and supported.”

Ruhlandt began a new position as vice principal, academic and dean at the University of Toronto at Scarborough on July 1. In her new role she will oversee the building of a medical school on campus.

Angelina Lim ’25, a film major in the College of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA), has been named a recipient of a 2024 Beinecke Scholarship. Lim is the fourth Beinecke Scholar in ���ϲ�����’s history.

The award provides graduate funding and mentorship for juniors in the arts, humanities or social sciences. The Beinecke Scholarship seeks to encourage and enable highly motivated students of exceptional promise to pursue graduate study in these fields. The Beinecke Scholarship works with approximately 135 participating institutions. Each school may nominate one candidate per year; the campus nomination process is highly competitive. This year, the Beinecke Scholarship Program selected 19 scholars.

Below, Lim talks about her studies as an aspiring cinematographer and her future plans.

Thakur is one of in the United States to receive the award, which the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation calls the largest and most prestigious award for Ph.D. candidates in the humanities and social sciences addressing questions of ethical and religious values.

Funded by the Charlotte W. Newcombe Foundation, the fellowship was created in 1981 and has supported nearly 1,300 doctoral candidates. Newcombe Fellows have gone on to be noted faculty at domestic and foreign institutions, leaders in their fields of study, Pulitzer Prize winners and more.

Thakur’s dissertation, “River song: Riverine ethics and autonomy on the Brahmaputra floodplains,” focuses on the ethical actions shaping the lives of people inhabiting the floodplains of the Brahmaputra River in Assam, India, as they build a future amidst socio-economic, political and environmental precarity.

When Thakur began preliminary research in 2017, she followed the flows of the Brahmaputra River and its many tributaries in upper and central Assam. “This helped me understand how a mobile approach to land and life allows local communities across the Brahmaputra floodplains to deal with the uncertainties posed by climate change and infrastructures upstream,” Thakur says. “I specifically focus on how place-based ethics and ancestral values centering an autonomous mode of life emerge in narratives about a future for riverine communities living in small river islands on the Brahmaputra River’s northern bank.”

From 2021-22, Thakur explored riverine communities’ relationships with the Brahmaputra River and its tributaries through songs, stories and participation in everyday life while living in the river island region. She also interviewed activists and community leaders to understand their perspectives around development infrastructures that adversely impact community access to land and resources. She also conducted research at several archives in India.

“Nimisha’s research is fascinating, timely and important, and I enjoyed working with her to hone her application materials,” says Daniel Olson-Bang, director of professional and career development in the Graduate School. “I’m so pleased that such a deserving researcher will have this opportunity.”

Thakur’s research was supported by the American Institute of Indian Studies Junior Dissertation Fellowship from 2021-22. She also received support from the Department of Anthropology and the Moynihan South Asia Center in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and the Education Model Program on Water-Energy Research, a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Traineeship Program at ���ϲ�����.

Julia Fancher, a rising junior majoring in physics and mathematics in the and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program, has been named a 2024-25 Astronaut Scholar by the .

Founded by the Mercury 7 astronauts, the foundation awards scholarships to students in their junior or senior year who are pursuing a science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) degree with intentions to pursue research or advance their field upon completion of their degrees. Astronaut Scholars are among the best and brightest minds in STEM who show initiative, creativity and excellence in their chosen field.

The Astronaut Scholarship includes funding of up to $15,000 toward educational expenses, a paid trip to the ASF Innovators Week and Gala in Houston in August, where Fancher will receive the award, and lifelong mentoring and engagement opportunities with astronauts, Astronaut Scholar alumni, industry leaders and the ASF.

Fancher worked with the University’s on her application. “Julia’s commitment to research in astrophysics since her first semester on campus at SU, combined with her extraordinary publication and presentation record, make her a superb fit for the Astronaut Scholarship,” says CFSA Director Jolynn Parker. “We’re thrilled that she’ll benefit from the program’s tuition support and excellent mentorship and professional development opportunities.”

“For 40 years, ASF has been at the forefront of nurturing the next generation of STEM leaders and fueling their passion for exploration and innovation,” says Caroline Schumacher, ASF president and CEO. “Each year, it’s thrilling to see the exceptional talent and dedication each new scholar brings to the ASF community. We welcome the 2024 class and look forward to supporting them in their quest to make their unique mark on our society.”

Fancher, who is also minoring in computer science in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, was recently named a 2024 Goldwater Scholar. When she was in middle school, her aunt gifted her Nathalia Holt’s 2016 book “Rise of the Rocket Girls: The Women Who Propelled Us, from Missiles to the Moon to Mars.”

“I was captivated by the stories of these women, and they inspired me to pursue STEM research,” Fancher says. She now plans a career researching theoretical high-energy astrophysics.

As a first-year student at ���ϲ�����, she joined the high-energy astrophysics lab of Eric Coughlin, assistant professor of physics. Under Coughlin’s guidance, Fancher researches tidal disruption events (TDEs), astrophysical transients that occur when a star is destroyed by the tidal field of a black hole. She uses a combination of numerical simulations and analytical methods to accurately model TDEs, which reveal properties of distant galaxies. “I want to continue contributing to our understanding of the sources of astrophysical transients and expand our knowledge of the universe,” she says.

Fancher’s research has overturned previously held convictions about the physical effects of shocks during the disruption of a star in a TDE and established the importance of self-gravity for understanding how stellar debris behaves once a star has been destroyed. She published this research as first author in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society in December 2023. She is now testing a new model developed by Coughlin and Chris Nixon, associate professor of theoretical astrophysics at the University of Leeds, and she is creating a library of PHANTOM stars with realistic structures that will be publicly available for future TDE research.

With support from ���ϲ�����’s undergraduate research office (SOURCE) and a Young Research Fellowship, Fancher presented her work at the 243rd meeting of the American Astronomical Society and was a finalist in the Chambliss poster competition. She has presented posters at SOURCE research fairs and at the Conference for Undergraduate Women in Physics at West Point. She is second author on a paper published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters in January 2024. Her publications and presentations have implications for how observational data from TDEs is interpreted and could lead to new insights into distant black holes and stellar populations in galactic centers.

Fancher supports local ���ϲ����� high school students through the ���ϲ����� Research in Physics (SURPh) program during the summer and mentors students through the Society of Physics Students. She also volunteers for Friends of Inkululeko, through which she works with learners in South Africa. “I want to ensure that students from a variety of backgrounds have the opportunity to explore their interests and are encouraged to pursue careers in STEM just as I was,” she says. Outside of the classroom and lab, she plays alto saxophone in the ���ϲ����� Marching Band and completed a half marathon last fall.

Fancher plans to enroll in a doctoral program that focuses on computational and analytical astrophysics, with the goal of joining a research university or national laboratory to conduct research in theoretical high-energy astrophysics.

“I aim to build my own astrophysics lab focusing on discovering possible mechanisms of observed astrophysical transients through a combination of analytical methods and computational modeling,” Fancher says. ‘The mentoring that the ASF provides will be invaluable as I work towards a career in research, and I am excited to meet the other scholars in my cohort as well. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to join this community.”

Created in 1984, ASF awarded its first seven scholarships in honor of the Mercury 7 astronauts—Scott Carpenter, Gordon Cooper, John Glenn, Virgil “Gus” Grissom, Walter Schirra, Alan Shepard and Deke Slayton. Seven students received $1,000 scholarships. To fundraise and support future scholarships, the founders ̶ which included the six surviving Mercury 7 astronauts, Betty Grissom (Gus’s widow), Dr. William Douglas (the Project Mercury flight surgeon) and Henri Landwirth (an Orlando businessman and friend) ̶ began donating proceeds from their speaking engagements. The incredible efforts of these legends have shaped ASF’s mission to support and reward exceptional college students pursuing degrees in STEM. Forty years later, more than $9 million has been awarded to more than 800 college students.

As a university partner of the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation, ���ϲ����� can nominate two students for the Astronaut Scholarship each year. Interested students should contact CFSA for information on the nomination process (cfsa@syr.edu; 315.443.2759). More information on the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation can be .

Hareeta Printup ’24 with some of her designs (Photo by Charles Wainwright)

Growing up, Yegunahareeta (Hareeta) Printup ’24 was immersed in the tradition and beauty of Indigenous culture.

Printup, a fashion design major in the , a 2024 VPA Scholar, a Haudenosaunee Promise Scholar and a member of the Tuscarora Nation’s Beaver Clan, was born and raised on the Onondaga Nation, where her maternal grandmother was a faithkeeper. Printup’s parents raised her in the nation’s longhouse in a very traditional way. “I have a lot of memories growing up there,” she says.

She was especially drawn to the music and dance performed during ceremonies to honor their Creator. “It’s the heart and soul of what we do,” Printup says. Although she was an artistic child, her dreams of the future included a range of possible careers, including being a marine biologist.

After graduating from Niagara-Wheatfield High School near Buffalo, New York, she went to community college and dealt with some health challenges. Printup spent some time working, including in Florida, but several circumstances, including the COVID-19 pandemic, made her think about changing her life’s direction.

Intricate beadwork on a skirt (Photo by Charles Wainwright)

“It really was a blessing in disguise for me because I don’t think I would’ve applied to SU if I didn’t have that moment to reconsider my life,” Printup says. “I was not happy with what I was doing at all.”

Another influence in her decision to go back to school was her dad, Ruchatneet Printup ’23, who decided to return to school and earn a film degree from VPA following nearly three decades in the workforce. “Dad said, ‘Now’s the time, you really should come back to school.’ I really didn’t think I was ever going to do it.”

Hareeta wasn’t sure what she wanted to pursue but realized fashion design was an option. “I thought to myself, ‘This is really something I could do,’” she says. “I’ve always had an interest in clothes, I just never considered it a career path before. It was like all the pieces fell together.”

While clothing with meaning is often seen at Indigenous ceremonies, it is not often seen in everyday life. Printup wants to bring design elements and historical details used and worn by her ancestors and incorporate them into modern and contemporary designs.

“We express ourselves a lot through the jewelry,” Printup says. “But if we had more clothing that had tribal prints, or beadwork or images that reflect us, if we had more options, I think we would lean into that more.”

Hareeta Printup, right, and her dad, Ruchatneet Printup ’23, at this spring’s Senior Fashion Show at the Nancy Cantor Warehouse (Photo courtesy of Hareeta Printup

Printup draws heavily on inspiration from the natural world in her designs. Through her work, she hopes to bring visibility to the Indigenous community. “As Indigenous people, we often find ourselves dressing every day in a manner that does not reflect our Indigenous identities,” she says. “I aspire to create clothes that bring comfortability to my community members and allow them to show up as themselves.”

While Printup found her calling within her studies, adapting to college life during the pandemic was challenging. “It was isolating,” she says of her first year on campus when social distancing was in effect and social activities were restricted. As an older student, she had moments of self-doubt. “I just needed to believe that I could do it,” she says. “I really have treated these four years like they’re my life’s work.”

Printup found a great deal of support from her dad, as the two shared an off-campus apartment during her time at ���ϲ�����. “Honestly, it was awesome. My dad and I are so much alike. We do a lot of the same things, so it really worked out.” As both were engaged in creative studies, dad and daughter often bounced ideas off each other. And dad stepped in to provide support and sage advice when needed.

Hareeta Printup with some of her designs (Photo by Charles Wainwright)

The success Ruchatneet Printup, a University Scholar and VPA Scholar in 2023, enjoyed on campus also inspired his daughter to succeed academically. “I know how great he is, but it was wonderful to see him get the recognition he so deserved,” Hareeta says.

Printup will return to the Buffalo area after graduation. She is excited to see where her journey takes her next. For now, her next big endeavor is becoming a mom. Printup and her partner are expecting their first child—a girl—in August.

“My end goal is to run my own business, to have my own line of clothing,” Printup says. “I really enjoy working with my hands, so as long as I can find something that fulfills me in that way, I’ll be happy.”

What also makes Printup happy is seeing someone wear clothing that she has poured her heart and soul into. “It brings me so much joy, in all honesty. It’s finding myself in the community in a way. Growing up, I was a dancer. I was never the best dancer, but I was out there,” she says. “Now I’m realizing that maybe that’s not my place in the circle. Maybe my place is creating the clothes for the dancer. We all have our places in community, and so I think this is just me making that shift of finding where I belong.”

Steve Ruge, left, of ���ϲ����� Haulers, and Joe Lore from Facilities Services hold the missing passport they located on Monday.

The University’s Facilities Services team is known for working behind the scenes—without fanfare—to make University operations run smoothly and to handle unique situations. This past weekend, the team, together with local contractor ���ϲ����� Haulers, pulled off a miracle of epic proportions.

The team’s weekend dispatcher, Seamus Moran, received a call from a student that they had accidentally put their passport in with items that they recycled. Moran notified the team’s weekend supervisor, Macky MacPherson, who in turn contacted Joe Lore, supervisor of facility maintenance and project services.

Lore immediately reached out to Steve Ruge, his contact at ���ϲ����� Haulers, and asked that they put a hold on removing the contents of the recycling truck that had come from the University that day. Lore told Ruge he would be at the company’s East ���ϲ����� facility at 7 a.m. on Monday morning to begin looking for the passport.

Lore did not hesitate to begin the search, even though he knew it would be like looking for a needle in a haystack.��For him, dad mode kicked in. “I realized it was next to impossible,” he says. “I kept thinking if it were my son or daughter though, I would at least want somebody to have looked for the passport, even if they did not find it.”

Lore and Ruge searched through more than three tons of recycling and garbage to find the missing passport

���ϲ����� Haulers placed the contents from the truck that had picked up the University’s recycling on Sunday into a large bay at their facility. Early Monday morning, Lore and Ruge began the search for the passport through more than three tons of recycling. “While we were looking, I said a prayer to St. Anthony, who is the patron saint of finding lost belongings,” Lore says.

Ruge found the passport 45 minutes later, and Lore was able to return it later that morning to the grateful student.

“Regardless of the task, the team always steps up and gets the job done—that is what we do,” says Pete Sala, vice president and chief campus facilities officer. “We are stewards of this campus, and our job is to help the students, faculty and staff, no matter what the challenge may be.”

Lore says this is the strangest request that he has ever seen during his time in Facilities Services. And he was glad he could help a student in need.

Not all superheroes wear capes.

Two ���ϲ����� students have been named as student cultural ambassadors through the U.S.-UK Fulbright Commission’s UK Summer Institute program.

They are Keona Bukhari-Adams ’27, a psychology and neuroscience major in the College of Arts and Sciences, and Adalys Sanchez ’26, an earth sciences major and women and gender studies minor in the College of Arts and Sciences and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program.

The Fulbright UK Summer Institutes are fully funded three- to four-week summer study programs for first- and second-year U.S. undergraduates. The Summer Institutes are made possible through generous donations from private individuals and through partnerships with some of the top universities in the UK. Participants are selected based on leadership skills, academic achievement, character, adaptability and ambassadorial qualities, as well as demonstrated interest in the UK and its culture.

Selection is highly competitive; only 36 students from the U.S. were chosen as recipients this year. The first two ���ϲ����� students to receive Fulbright UK Summer Institute awards studied in the UK in 2016 and 2017. Four students received the award in 2018.

“The Fulbright UK Summer Institutes program is one of the most competitive programs to which Center for Fellowship and Scholarship Advising (CFSA) helps first- and second-year students apply,” says Melissa Welshans, assistant director of CFSA. “Adalys and Keona were selected because they embody the academic excellence and ambassadorial spirit that this program seeks to cultivate among emerging leaders. We are so proud of them and know they will be excellent representatives of ���ϲ����� and the U.S. during their time in the UK.”

Bukhari-Adams will study at the Glasgow School of Art and the University of Strathclyde in Scotland, in a focused on technology, innovation and creativity.�� Sanchez will study at the University of Exeter in England in a focused on global sustainability and climate change issues.

During the summer institute, Bukhari-Adams hopes to explore the intersection between medicine and technology. “I want to learn how these two industries have collectively revolutionized global medicine,” she says. Bukhari plans to attend medical school and embark on a career as a neurosurgeon or pediatric oncologist. “I hope that this experience will serve as a stepping stone in achieving the extraordinary and pushing the boundaries for greatness in the world of medicine,” she says.

Bukhari-Adams is also excited to make her first international trip and to learn more about a different culture. She developed an interest in anthropology after taking a class with Professor Azra Hromadžić in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. “I am very excited to explore Scotland from an anthropological perspective,” she says.

Sanchez is passionate about the intersection of environmental justice and marginalized communities. “Through my academic journey, I want to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to advocate for environmental justice as a lawyer,” she says. “I hope attending this program in Exeter helps me learn how to do this from a diverse perspective.”

She plans to explore the UK’s climate change research and sustainability practices and to integrate these insights into initiatives back in the U.S. “I am also looking forward to sharing my past research experiences with coastal communities and water quality with experts in Exeter who do similar work,” Sanchez says. “I think that participating in this program will help me become a better advocate for a healthier planet, an advocate who is aware of the major impact of climate change and practices sustainability in a way that creates social equity.”

This will also be Sanchez’s first time traveling internationally. “I’m excited for the experience as a whole—the opportunity to see all the historical sights of Exeter, being in Central London for the first week of the program and just getting to explore and meet new people.”

The����funds a range of awards that include English teaching assistantships (ETA) and study/research grants in over 140 countries.

The 2024 recipients are:

• Caroline Barraco G’24, a history master’s degree student in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, English teaching assistantship (ETA), Spain
• Olivia Budelmann ’23 (mathematics; environment, sustainability and policy; and Spanish language, literature and culture in the College of Arts and Sciences), ETA, Andorra
• Jaemon Crosby ’24, an acting major in the College of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA), study award, United Kingdom—London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts (LAMDA, classical acting)
• Avital Datskovsky, a Ph.D. student in anthropology in the Maxwell School, research award, India
• Jessica Hogbin, a Ph.D. student in history in the Maxwell School, research award, Italy
• Lindsey Kernen ’23 (psychology in A&S and citizenship and civic engagement in the Maxwell School), study award, United Kingdom—University of Strathclyde
• Yasmin Nayrouz ’24, an English and textual studies major in A&S, a public relations major in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program, study award, United Kingdom—University of Sussex
• Anthony Ornelaz G’24, a creative writing M.F.A. student in A&S,��ETA, Poland
• Alec Rovensky ’21 (School of Architecture), study award, Germany—Technische Universität Berlin
• Adriana Rozas Rivera G’21 (magazine, news and digital journalism, Newhouse School), ETA, Spain
• Zelikha Shoja G’24, an art video student in VPA, research award, Tajikistan
• Julianne Strauss ’23 (inclusive elementary and special education, School of Education) G’24 (literacy education), ETA, Spain
• Elizabeth Vanek G’24, a clinical mental health counseling student in the School of Education, ETA, Mexico
• Ciara Young ’24, an international relations and anthropology major in the Maxwell School | A&S and linguistics major in A&S and member of the Renée Crown Honors Program, ETA, Korea

The 2024 alternates are:

• Huleymatu Barrie ’22 (international relations in the Maxwell School | A&S, ETA, Ghana
• Ian Ferguson, a Ph.D. student in history in the Maxwell School, research award, Kenya
• Liam Goff, a senior broadcast and digital journalism major in the Newhouse School, ETA, Germany
• Mary Matthews, a senior international relations major in the Maxwell School | A&S, ETA, Estonia
• Laura Roman Lopez G’24, a master’s degree student in magazine, news and digital journalism in the Newhouse School, ETA, Argentina

Jaemon Crosby

Crosby, while studying at LAMDA, hopes to bring a new perspective and diversify the world of classical acting, as classical texts and acting historically have been written for and performed by white men.

Jaemon Crosby

“Some of these texts, for example Shakespeare, convey a bigger message and an experience that is not unique to just one race or gender, but to everyone,” Crosby says. “There has been a big revamp in the use of classical texts and bringing them to modern eyes, and I want to be a part of that. … I have always been very drawn to language, rhetoric and the power of listening. I hope this training will help me bring that into works that are performed today and give me a new perspective and interpretation of texts to bring into auditions as I begin my acting career.”

Crosby hopes he can be a role model for younger Black kids in that they may see themselves in classical texts. “Representation is very important in television, theatre and film,” he says. “I want to act and play roles that go against stereotypes of what a Black man is and show what we can be and the power in our Blackness.”

He also hopes that in the future, the connections he makes during his time in the U.K. will aid him in producing shows both in the United States and the U.K. “In my time during my previous semester abroad in London (through ���ϲ����� Abroad), I saw so many beautiful, specific and bold plays that are telling important stories that all should see,” Crosby says. “Theatre should tell stories that allow people to see themselves in them and relate, tell untold stories, educate and make people feel less alone. Everyone should have access to that. There are amazing shows I think should be brought to the U.S., and their messages shared with everyone. I want to be a part of that, and this training and the connections I make will help me get there.”

Jessica Hogbin

Jessica Hogbin

During her Fulbright year in Italy, Hogbin will conduct research for her dissertation, which studies how melancholy—a now-defunct medical category from humoral theory—was used and abused by Renaissance scholars and physicians to express and explain mental health and the mind. Her project, “Innumerable Melancholies: Medicine, Mental Health and Human Nature in Renaissance Italy, 1450-1650,” engages with the deeply interconnected relationship between medicine, narratives around mental health and politics in the 16th and 17th centuries.

Hogbin will conduct research in several archives and libraries in the Veneto region of Italy, including the Historic Archive of the University of Padua, the Marciana Library, and the State Archives of Padua and Venice.

“Through this study, I aim to explore the increasing presumption that it was a patient’s responsibility to care for their own mind and body, along with stereotypes that claimed certain people were more likely by birth and social status to be victims of melancholy, concepts that continue to affect how mental health is imagined to this day,” she says. “I am greatly looking forward to spending this Fulbright year building my dissertation project, conversing with Italian scholars and eating plenty of gelato.”

Hogbin plans to transform her dissertation into a book project in the future. “I hope to take everything that I learn during my Fulbright year, both academically and culturally, back into the classroom, where I am looking forward to sharing this information with my students and allowing the content that I find to shape my lessons.”

Lindsay Kernen

During her Fulbright year, Kernen will pursue a master’s degree in work and organizational psychology at the University of Strathclyde Business School in Glasgow, Scotland.

Lindsay Kernen

Her research will focus on interpersonal relationships in organizations and how diverse groups have the power to produce creative, innovative and profitable outcomes as opposed to conventional top-down management styles.

“I hope to bridge theory and practice, promoting the importance of community involvement in psychological research. I’m looking forward to partnering with an organization in Glasgow to improve employee well-being and satisfaction,” she says. “I’m so excited to have a year dedicated to community-based learning and I hope this leaves me exposed to many diverse perspectives in the psychology field and beyond.”

Beyond her Fulbright year, Kernen plans to embark upon a career dedicated to connecting psychological research that informs employee wellbeing with organizational practices and to raise awareness of the benefits of inclusive group dialogue for innovative workplaces. “This experience will allow me to dig deep into these topics while providing many opportunities to collaborate with local organizations to implement these strategies while learning from the local community and diverse cultures,” she says.

In addition to her studies, Kernen plans to attend meetings for worship at the local Quaker meetinghouse and enjoy Glasgow’s vibrant music and arts scene.

Julianne Strauss

Julianne Strauss

During her Fulbright year, Strauss will be an English teaching assistant in the La Rioja region of Spain. “I hope to find ways to promote inclusive education within the classrooms I teach in and in the school community,” says Strauss. “I also want to instill a love of reading in my students and use inclusive children’s literature that I read in my own U.S. classrooms to promote English learning.”

Strauss, who studied in Madrid during her junior year through ���ϲ����� Abroad, hopes to grow as a Spanish speaker and immerse herself in Spanish culture. “I have not had the chance to visit this region previously, so I want to explore all of my new home,” she says.

She plans to use this Fulbright year as a chance to expand her teaching experiences to students who are learning English as a second language. “I want to bring this experience home and draw upon it to support my future students in the Central New York or New York City region,” she says.

Students interested in applying to the Fulbright program should contact the Center for Fellowship and Scholarship Advising at 315.443.2759 or cfsa@syr.edu. The campus deadline for the 2024-25 application cycle is Sept. 10.

Three ���ϲ����� students have been awarded prestigious graduate research fellowships through the National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP), and two students have been recognized with honorable mentions.

The fellowship recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students who are pursuing research-based master’s and doctoral degrees in the U.S. The five-year fellowship includes three years of financial support, including an annual stipend of $37,000 and a $16,000 educational allowance.

The 2024 recipients of the NSF GRFP are the following:

• Edward (Cole) Fluker, a senior chemical engineering major in the College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS). Fluker will be joining the Ph.D. program in chemical and biomolecular engineering at the University of Pennsylvania upon graduation.
• Dan Paradiso, a second-year Ph.D. student in physics in the College of Arts and Sciences.
• Melissa Yeung, a first-year Ph.D. student in mechanical and aerospace engineering in ECS.

��Edward (Cole) Fluker

Fluker, who was recently named a University Scholar, initially got involved in research in his sophomore year and took on his first significant research project the following summer. Through the University’s Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program, he worked under Ian Hosein, associate professor of biomedical and chemical engineering, analyzing a gel polymer electrolyte system as an alternative to liquid electrolytes in calcium-ion batteries. The research resulted in a paper, on which Fluker was first author, in the American Chemical Society’s Journal of Physical Chemistry.

That experience led him to pursue more research opportunities in energy storage. In summer 2023, he completed the Internet of Things for Precision Agriculture REU at the University of Pennsylvania, where he studied the power and energy performance of aluminum air batteries (AABs) with Ag-based cathodes.

“By the end of the project, I had successfully fabricated cathodes that resulted in power performance of 70% of the commercial option at less than 1/4,000th of the cost,” Fluker says. “I was especially interested in creative efforts to improve efficient agricultural practices, and I hope to continue contributing to them while at UPenn.”

Fluker says the NSF GRFP will give him financial resources to help broaden his research to be more sustainable and inclusive. “There is a severe underrepresentation of Black students pursuing advanced degrees, and I believe this program will help me launch a pipeline program for African American students to support their advanced degree aspirations,” he says. “On top of my research goals committed to next generation energy storage, I want to pave a path for underrepresented students that opens doors they never thought were meant for them.”

Dan Paradiso

Paradiso’s research is focused on the deaths of massive stars in the universe, known as core-collapse supernovae. These stars, which have masses of around 10 to 100 times the mass of the sun, end their life in a cataclysmic and explosive death that produces light that can be detected with ground and space-based telescopes. Decades of research, however, suggests that not all stars that undergo core-collapse result in a successful explosion and instead the star can continue to implode until a black hole is formed. These events are referred to as failed supernovae, and it is estimated that approximately 20-30% of stars that undergo core-collapse result in a failed supernova.

“In my research I focus on the dynamics of shockwaves, which are ubiquitous with core-collapse supernova physics, using analytical and numerical methods to understand these failed supernova explosions,” Paradiso says. “I then use these techniques to make predictions about observable properties of failed and sub-energetic explosions.”

“As a second-year graduate student, the generous support from the GRFP is very welcome, and I am excited to continue my research with this support,” he says.

��Melissa Yeung

Yeung works in the fluid dynamics lab of Yiyang Sun, assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, where she focuses on supersonic jet engines.

High noise levels have always been associated with supersonic aircraft, restricting their flight range to over sea. “The goal of my work is to alleviate the undesired features through strategically placed small micro-jets of air. I am currently focused on optimizing these micro-jets such that they can continuously modulate themselves to adapt to various flight conditions. By doing so, the flow can be controlled even in off-design conditions and with minimal energy input,” Yeung says. “Understanding these complex flow physics is vital for the development of next-generation high-performance aircraft. Successfully controlling this flow can improve upon the aircraft’s performance and ensure the safety of nearby workers or civilians. This work is one of many steps in pushing supersonic flight for commercial use.”

Yeung says the GRFP fellowship will allow her more flexibility in her research direction, fund her research activities and allow her to attend more conferences.

Yeung also notes the tremendous amount of support she received from Sun, Professor Emeritus Mark Glauser and Gina Lee-Glauser, retired vice president for research, throughout the application process. “Their guidance has been crucial to my success and without them I would have not have the honor of being an NSF GRFP recipient, she says.

Nicholas Rubino and Elizabeth Su

Two students also received honorable mentions in this year’s NSF GRFP competition. Nicholas Rubino, a second-year Ph.D. student in mechanical and aerospace engineering in ECS who is researching robotic devices for physical rehabilitation, and Elizabeth Su, a senior graduating with a bachelor’s degree in bioengineering and neuroscience from the College of Arts and Sciences. Su will pursue a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering at Purdue University, researching enhanced visual prosthetics.

The CFSA will hold an the week of June 10-14. The bootcamp is for rising seniors and first- and second-year graduate students who are eligible for and plan to apply for the NSF GRFP this fall.

Students interested in learning more about or applying for the next NSF GRFP award cycle or any other nationally competitive scholarships and fellowships should visit the����or email��cfsa@syr.edu��for more information.

Five ���ϲ����� students have been selected as recipients of the Critical Language Scholarship (CLS), through which they will immerse themselves in intensive language study this summer.

The recipients and the languages they will study are:

• Christian Bevilacqua ’24, a social studies education and geography major in the , and , studying Urdu;
• Kathryn Bratt-Pfotenhauer G’24 a creative writing master’s of fine arts (M.F.A.) student (poetry) in the College of Arts and Sciences, studying Russian;
• Anthony Ornelaz G’24, a creative writing M.F.A. student in the College of Arts and Sciences, studying Turkish;
• Chelsea Sato, a Ph.D. candidate in mathematics in the College of Arts and Sciences, studying Korean; and
• Ciara Young ’24, an international relations and anthropology major in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and College of Arts and Sciences (A&S) and linguistics major in A&S, studying Korean.

The CLS program is an intensive overseas language and cultural immersion program for American graduate and undergraduate students enrolled in U.S. colleges and universities. Traditionally, some 550 students spend eight to 10 weeks abroad studying one of 14 languages—Arabic, Azerbaijani, Bangla, Chinese, Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Persian, Portuguese, Russian, Swahili, Turkish or Urdu. The program is fully funded and includes intensive language instruction and structured cultural enrichment experiences designed to promote rapid language gains.

CLS, a program of the U.S. Department of State, is part of a wider government initiative to expand the number of Americans studying and mastering foreign languages that are critical to national security and economic prosperity.

Christian Bevilacqua

Bevilacqua will study Urdu in Lucknow, India. This is his second time participating��in the CLS program; he studied Hindi in Jaipur, India, in 2022.

“Participating in the CLS Urdu program is an exciting opportunity for me to further my language skills and expand my cultural understanding of South Asia,” he says.

Bevilacqua will be an incoming first-year master’s student in geography in the Maxwell School in the fall, and he looks forward to learning Urdu to better prepare himself for future research projects.

“I am interested in studying the experiences of South Asian migrant workers in urban cities of the Arabian Peninsula,” says Bevilacqua. “Learning Urdu as a lingua franca will enable me to connect with their stories, experiences, feelings and expressions of art and memory, which is crucial for understanding how transnational migrant workers construct and navigate a sense of home and community.”

Kathryn Bratt-Pfotenhauer

As a child of former Foreign Service officers, being named a recipient of a CLS in Russian is incredibly meaningful to Bratt-Pfotenhauer.

“The importance of language as a means of communication and cooperation has been impressed upon me since birth,” she says. “I am proud to continue in my parents’ footsteps helping to foster connection between nations.”

Through her CLS experience, Bratt-Pfotenhauer hopes to gain a more complete view of Central Asia through her studies in Kyrgyzstan and a better understanding of how the Russian language operates in a country that was once part of the Soviet Union.

“After completing the CLS program, I hope to continue my studies of language and literatures through pursuing a doctorate in comparative literature,” she says.

Anthony Ornelaz

Ornelaz, a U.S. Air Force veteran and , served in the Middle East nearly a decade ago. “I feel I still have the ability to serve through the Foreign Service, which starts, for me, from the language up,” he says. “I would love to translate Turkish poetry into English while studying the Turkish poetic style.”

He is looking forward to his CLS experience in Ankara, Turkey. “This is a wonderful opportunity to build meaningful relationships while experiencing Turkish culture, food and understanding of the world,” he says. “I hope whatever I experience will be distinctly and organically Turkish from beginning to end.”

Ciara Young

During her time at ���ϲ�����, Young has maintained a deep commitment to the study of Korean language and affairs, particularly in the context of contemporary political developments and social movements. “In this way, being awarded CLS is the perfect culmination to my four years at SU, and the perfect beginning to my professional pursuits,” she says. “I am eager to meet my cohort and continue to immerse myself in Korean language and culture alongside them. I am especially looking forward to the time I will spend with my language partner around Gwangju.”

Following her CLS experience, Young will apply the linguistic and cultural insights she gains, as well as the intercultural communication, critical thinking, and teamwork skills she develops, to enhance her research pursuits and language studies in graduate school, focusing on foreign policy, security studies and��issues that impact U.S.-Korean relations.

“As I work towards my professional goal of becoming a Foreign Service officer with the U.S. State Department, the cross-cultural competence and Korean language skills I will develop during my time in Gwangju, a city renowned as the birthplace of Korean democracy and the May 18^th��Democratic Uprising, will be truly invaluable,” she says.

Five ���ϲ����� students have been selected for the 2024 Goldwater Scholarship, the preeminent undergraduate scholarship awarded in the natural sciences, engineering and mathematics in the U.S. This is the first time ���ϲ����� has had five students selected for the cohort and the third consecutive year the University has had at least three scholars selected in one year.

The recipients are:

• Julia Fancher, a sophomore physics and mathematics major in the (A&S) and a member of the ;
• Sadie Meyer, a sophomore biomedical engineering major in the (ECS) and mathematics major in A&S;
• Kerrin O’Grady, a junior biomedical engineering major in ECS and neuroscience integrated learning major in A&S;
• Serena Peters, a junior chemistry major in A&S; and
• Gianna Voce, a sophomore computer science major in ECS and neuroscience Integrated learning major in A&S.

“The fact that five students from ���ϲ����� were selected as Goldwater Scholars this year is a testament to our University’s robust support for undergraduate research and the high quality of faculty mentoring here.” Jolynn Parker, director, Center for Fellowship and Scholarship Advising

All five are research grant recipients from the .

The����was established by Congress in 1986 to honor U.S. Sen. Barry Goldwater, the five-term senator from Arizona. The purpose of the program is to provide a continuing source of highly qualified scientists, mathematicians and engineers by awarding scholarships to students who intend to pursue research careers in these fields.

The Goldwater Foundation received 1,353 nominations this year from around the country and 438 students were selected for the scholarship.

Each ���ϲ����� Goldwater Scholarship nominee worked with the (CFSA) to prepare their application. A faculty committee, headed by James Spencer, professor of chemistry in A&S, selected ���ϲ�����’s nominees for the national competition.

“We’re so proud of Julia, Sadie, Kerrin, Serena and Gianna. They are exceptional young scientists and it is gratifying to see them honored with this award,” says Jolynn Parker, CFSA director. “The fact that five students from ���ϲ����� were selected as Goldwater Scholars this year is a testament to our University’s robust support for undergraduate research and the high quality of faculty mentoring here.”

Julia Fancher

Fancher, a physics major, is also minoring in computer science and draws on those skills to create effective theoretical models of astrophysical phenomena.

“I have always loved space, and I now get to use physics and math to learn more about distant galaxies and black holes,” she says.

As a first-year student, Fancher joined the high-energy astrophysics lab of Eric Coughlin, assistant professor of physics. With Coughlin’s guidance, Fancher researches tidal disruption events, which occur when a star is destroyed by the tidal field of a black hole.

Fancher has published two papers in national journals on this topic and presented her research at the local Conference for Undergraduate Women in Physics and the national American Astronomical Society conference in January 2024, and was a finalist in the undergraduate AAS Chambliss poster competition. She participated in the “Education and Inclusion in Post-Apartheid South Africa” program through ���ϲ����� Abroad last summer.

Fancher plans to enroll in a doctoral program that focuses on computational and analytical astrophysics, with the goal of becoming a professor at a research university to conduct research in theoretical high-energy astrophysics.

“I aim to build my own astrophysics lab focusing on discovering possible mechanisms of observed astrophysical transients through a combination of analytical methods and computational modeling,” Fancher says.

Sadie Meyer

Meyer grew up surrounded by research with widespread impacts on healthcare and recognized the importance of such work early on. She developed a strong purpose to advance new approaches to women’s health and infertility, specifically with a biomedical engineering perspective.

In her first semester on campus, wanting to get more involved with research, Meyer joined the laboratory of James Henderson, professor of biomedical and chemical engineering and director of the . The lab specializes in functional shape-memory materials and biocompatible platform development.

Meyer has learned material synthesis and combined mathematical approaches with experimental design to conduct characterizations of programmed shape memory polymer topography to serve as a dynamic cell culture substrate. Her current project analyzes bacterial response to shape-memory actuated 3D silk wrinkled surfaces as a strategy for biofilm prevention. Meyer is third author on a manuscript published in February 2024 in the Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute journal, “Polymers.”��She will present her research at the 50th Northeast Bioengineering Conference on April 4 at the Stevens Institute of Technology. This summer, she will participate in a National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) at Northwestern University’s Soft and Hybrid Nanotechnology Experimental Resource Facility. There, she will study the ultrastructure of yeast mitochondria, working toward a better understanding of cellular function, health and evolution.

Meyer plans to enroll in a Ph.D. program with strengths in regenerative medicine, biomaterials and mechanobiology. “After earning my Ph.D., I will pursue a faculty position where I can oversee a lab of my own and conduct research to address challenges in fertility and reproductive health,” she says.

“Being selected for the Goldwater Scholarship encourages and supports my ambitions for further inquiry in my fields and makes a tremendous difference to my development as a researcher,” she says.

Kerrin O’Grady

In high school, O’Grady volunteered at a camp for neurodivergent children and adults. “I have seen the need for adaptive and customizable everyday devices for individuals with impaired motor control,” she says.

She is now pursuing degrees in biomedical engineering and neuroscience, with a minor in philosophy. “As a bioengineer, I am eager to support communities that may not have the same opportunities I have been afforded,” she says.

O’Grady has engaged in research in the Henderson Lab since the beginning of her sophomore year. There, she has focused on creating silk-wrinkled topographies on 3D shape-memory polymeric scaffolds and optimizing the attachment and proliferation of mammalian, specifically neuronal, cells on the scaffolds. Her current work focuses on using silk-wrinkled shape-memory polymeric conduits to aid in peripheral nerve injury repair.

O’Grady plans to enroll in a Ph.D. program in biomedical engineering, focusing on neuro-engineering. After completing her Ph.D., she aims to pursue a career focused on neural engineering research, working closely with the neurodivergent and physically disabled communities.

“I want to lead experiments and to create devices and repair in vivo damage, similar to the work that Argonne National Laboratory is conducting on repairing spinal cord damage by injecting a treatment directly into paralyzed mice,” she says. O’Grady will continue this work at the University of Victoria this summer through a Fulbright MITACS research internship. There, she will work in a lab on 3D bioprinting neural tissues from stem cells.

“The Goldwater Scholarship will help me in a financial sense and will provide me with a community of dedicated students who have similar passions and goals as me,” she says.

Serena Peters

Peters is pursuing a major in chemistry because of her interest in applications for environmental sustainability. She has contributed to a research project with Professor Jonathan French quantifying students’ sense of belonging in general chemistry courses. Currently, in Professor Timothy Korter’s lab, she is using high-complexity experimental and computational techniques to study the polymorphism of two antiviral compounds, acyclovir and ganciclovir.

Peters purposefully chooses assignments that allow her to delve deeper into the realm of sustainable chemistry. “Whether presenting on how zeolites can be employed for nuclear waste cleanup or writing a paper on innovative carbon capture strategies, I consistently integrate environmental chemistry into my academic pursuits,” she says.

Peters plans to pursue a Ph.D. in chemistry with a concentration on applications for environmental sustainability. Her career goal is to work in aquatic cleanup as a research professor at a university.

“I aspire to guide undergraduates who, much like myself, may harbor uncertainties about venturing into the field of research. I hope to continue researching in the field of environmental chemistry, specifically using different forms of spectroscopy to analyze water contaminants. My goal is to foster a research environment that demonstrates that research is an inclusive pursuit open to anyone, regardless of their background or identity,” she says.

“The Goldwater Scholarship has helped me build my confidence. I long wondered if research was for me, partially since it’s such a male-dominated field. However, receiving this scholarship has shown me that I am capable and I deserve to be a researcher as much as anyone else,” Peters says.

Gianna Voce

Voce has always loved the problem-solving of computer science and its endless possibilities to intersect with other fields. “Computer science was originally inspired by the human brain and continues to be influenced by neuroscience, so seeing the parallels between my two majors is fascinating to me,” she says. “I love seeing the ways two seemingly disconnected fields interact and discovering new ways for them to do so.”

Voce transferred to ���ϲ����� from Clarkson University; she has sought out research opportunities since the summer before her freshman year, when she participated in a PreFrosh Summer Research Experience through Clarkson’s Honors Program. There, she studied the effects of commonly used fluorescent dyes on tendon mechanics, research that was published in the Journal of the Mechanics of Biomedical Materials.

In the summer of 2022, she participated in an REU at Texas State University focused on cybersecurity in connected vehicles. She helped create a reinforcement learning algorithm that could successfully identify which vehicles had been compromised by a cyberattack for networks that were more than 90% corrupted. She published and presented this research at the Association for Computing Machinery REUNS 2023 conference in Washington, D.C., and at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers’ International Conference on Consumer Electronics 2024 in Las Vegas. She will be studying abroad in Florence this summer through ���ϲ����� Abroad.

After transferring to ���ϲ�����, Voce joined the lab of Qinru Qiu, professor of electrical engineering and computer science, where she researches algorithms for neuromorphic computing. Her team focuses on developing software and artificial neural networks to run on Intel chips.

Voce plans to pursue a Ph.D. in computer science or neuroscience with a concentration in computational neuroscience. After obtaining her degrees, she plans to take a research position within the tech industry, working as either a computational neuroscientist or a machine learning engineer. “I aim to contribute novel insights toward the development of artificial intelligence systems that mimic the qualities of biological neural networks with the goal of increasing efficiency and accuracy in AI learning,” she says.

“The Goldwater Scholarship is an incredible honor that will not only assist me in my education but provide the opportunity to be a part of an amazing network of researchers that offer inspiration to pursue this career path,” Voce says.

CFSA seeks applicants for the Goldwater Scholarship each fall; the campus deadline is mid-November each year. Interested students should contact CFSA at��cfsa@syr.edu.

On Thursday, April 4, family, friends and supporters of the program will in downtown ���ϲ����� to celebrate the program, the largest and most inclusive program of its kind in the nation. Among the scheduled speakers at the anniversary gala are ���ϲ����� Chancellor and President ; State Sen. Rachel May (D-48); Captain , JAGC, USN (Ret.), benefactor of the Lawrence B. Taishoff Center for Inclusive Higher Education; and , Lawrence B. Taishoff Associate Professor of Inclusive Education and executive director of the Taishoff Center in the School of Education.

Andrew Benbenek at ���ϲ����� Welcome 2017

Founded in 2014, InclusiveU offers real opportunities for students with disabilities to participate in every aspect of ���ϲ����� campus life. Students take , on and off campus—and as far away as —join in , and in Albany, New York and Washington, D.C. Currently, the program hosts more than 100 students with intellectual or developmental disabilities from across the country.

InclusiveU and the Taishoff Center are both part of the School of Education’s . Together, CDI programs and initiatives demonstrate SOE’s global leadership and in disability and inclusion.

Sharing anniversaries with InclusiveU in 2024 are SOE’s first-in-the-nation program (1994) and “” (1984), a summer study abroad program that invites students to immerse themselves in Italy’s inclusive schooling.

“It’s hard to believe that we have reached our 10th year of serving students at ���ϲ����� through InclusiveU,” says Myers. “The milestones of our program—students in campus residence halls, InclusiveU Remembrance Scholars and Unsung Heroes, and full participation in all that our campus has to offer—remind us of the ways our program continues to make a profound impact in our community.”

Chloe Payne, left and a friend attend a game in the JMA Dome

Inclusion initiatives, such as dual enrollment with the ���ϲ����� City School District and partnership with a community agency, predated the establishment of InclusiveU in 2014 but did not provide a fully integrated campus experience. Receipt of a federal grant got the program off the ground, and it started with 14 students. “We started our internship program, and a few years later were able to have students live in residence halls and really build out pieces of the program,” says InclusiveU Director Brianna Shults.

Since its establishment, more than 320 students have accessed nearly 300 classes based on interest across most of the University’s colleges and schools. The last year of the four-year program is focused on internships and employment, building skills and connecting theory they learned at in the classroom and applying it to their resumes. Beyond the necessary skills, the program helps to instill confidence in students as they prepare for careers beyond college. Students receive a certificate upon completion of the program.

In addition to classes, students are fully immersed in the social life of the University. While students have a mentor to help with class needs and facilitation, social interaction happens organically through peers. “Socially, the Peer-2-Peer program is the piece that many students access,” says Shults. InclusiveU and matriculated students connect for whatever events are on campus. A lot of this is natural support.” Students attend Orange After Dark activities, speakers, athletic events and holiday events such as Diwali. “This happens through natural peer support that every other student can access on campus,” Shults says.

Bobby Pangborn, center, celebrates his graduation with his parents

And this interaction is good not just for the InclusiveU students, says Shults. “Having our students around makes their peers better friends, better employees down the road, better neighbors,” Shults days. “It makes them better people all around because our students are here and they are all working together.”

Andrew Benbenek ’21 enrolled in InclusiveU after graduating from Bishop Grimes High School in East ���ϲ�����. He was the first InclusiveU student to access classes in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and was the second InclusiveU student named as a Remembrance Scholar, one of the University’s highest student honors. He was involved in lots of activities on campus including OttoTHON and Camp Kesem.

“���ϲ����� was where I had wanted to be since I was a kid,” Benbenek says. Peers helped him to get involved. He joined Z-89 and Citrus TV, which he says “is a big part of how I got to where I am. Once I joined, felt like this could be a career for me.” He also did a full-year internship in the Newhouse Sports Media Center with Professor Olivia Stomski.

Benbenek now works for Galaxy Communications as a board operator for SU games. “InclusiveU gave me the knowledge I needed to be successful and helped me discover what I really wanted to do,” he says.

Chloe Payne ’22, studied human development and family science and now works at Little Luke’s Daycare and Preschool in DeWitt. During her time at ���ϲ�����, Payne immersed herself in her classes and campus life, including becoming a member of a belly dancing troupe. InclusiveU was the best thing I have ever done,” she says.

Bobby Pangborn ’20, graduated from Nottingham High School in ���ϲ����� and studied drama through InclusiveU. He has brought his skills to many local productions through the years for both the Redhouse and Front Row Players and will play Sir Robin in a local production of “Spamalot” in late June. He also participates in Special Olympics, where he has won several medals downhill in skiing events.

Pangborn interned at the Whitman School of Management during his time with InclusiveU, and now works there full-time as an assistant In the mailroom, Pangborn does the jobs that people don’t see but that are critical to the smooth function of the school’s operations. He completes copy jobs, sorts and distributes mail, distributes student paychecks, sends package notifications and makes sure that supplies are stocked, organized and labeled. He is also a mentor for student employees.

“As an alumni, Bobby has been active in participating in various conference panels and employment events to share his experience while he was on campus and how that helped to shape what he is doing now that he has graduated,” says Shults.

When InclusiveU first started, there were about 30 post-secondary programs across the country—now there are little more than 300. And while that number seems large, it’s still pretty small, Shults says. “There are a lot of students who want to access education beyond high school. We are seen as a model, trying to support other programs at other schools starting to do what we are doing. It’s important that students have a choice and are able to pick the program that is best for them,” she says.

“There is such a rich history of disability work here at ���ϲ�����,” says Shults. “The fact that InclusiveU is here and is seen as a leader is really important in being able to push this work forward and in being thoughtful and innovative with what we are doing. … This is the first generation of students with disabilities to go to college and have this opportunity, and having this program here in ���ϲ����� is a really big deal.”

The society, the nation’s oldest and most selective, is unique in that it comprises both undergraduate and graduate students from all disciplines, making it a good fit for ���ϲ�����.

In 2014, reorganizations left the ���ϲ����� chapter without someone to lead it. But that is changing, as the Center for Fellowship and Scholarship Advising (CFSA) is currently in the process of restarting the chapter. Invitations have recently been sent to eligible students, says Adam Crowley, fellowships advisor with CFSA and president of the University’s chapter. An induction ceremony for the new members will be held on campus on Wednesday, March 27.

A 1916 telegram from Penn State congratulating ���ϲ����� on receiving enough votes to establish a Phi Kappa Phi chapter (Photo courtesy of ���ϲ����� Archives)

“This is the perfect time to relaunch our Phi Kappa Phi chapter,” Crowley says. “Phi Kappa Phi recognizes academic excellence in all disciplines, including professional schools. As the University emphasizes the value of interdisciplinary collaboration, this felt like the right opportunity to build a forum bringing together outstanding students in diverse fields.”

Initiation into the organization is limited to the top 7.5% of juniors based on academic standing, Crowley says. Seniors and graduate students in the top 10% based on academic standing are also eligible.

There are currently 325 active chapters in the country. From 2010-14, 545 students were inducted into the ���ϲ����� chapter.

Crowley says membership in the organization opens up new opportunities for students, including scholarships, networking and attendance at a national conference. As the chapter grows, Crowley envisions bringing in speakers and developing opportunities for community service.

“One of our first priorities is recruiting student officers to help identify programming that will appeal to all of our members,” he says. “I’m looking forward to working with our student leaders to find ways that our new members can collaborate with each other.”

Crowley will be assisted in the administration of the chapter by Robert Wilson, associate professor of geography and the environment in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs (vice president) and Jolynn Parker, director of CFSA (secretary).

Members of Phi Kappa Phi across the nation have served in the White House, in Congress and the Supreme Court, and have won Nobel Prizes, Pulitzer Prizes and other national and international awards for service and achievement in their chosen fields.

Eleven students from the University were selected for Fulbright research and teaching awards for academic year 2023-24 to the Czech Republic, France, Germany (three awards), Mexico, Oman, Poland, Spain (two awards) and Tajikistan.

“Fulbright’s Top Producing Institutions represent the diversity of America’s higher education community. Dedicated administrators support students and scholars at these institutions to fulfill their potential and rise to address tomorrow’s global challenges. We congratulate them, and all the Fulbrighters who are making an impact the world over,” says Lee Satterfield, assistant secretary of state for educational and cultural affairs.

The Fulbright competition is administered at��. This is the fourth time—and second year in a row—the University was named a Fulbright Top Producing Institution. The University was previously recognized for the 2012-13 cohort (under campus Fulbright advisor and professor emerita Susan Wadley) and the 2019-20 and 2022-23 cohorts (under CFSA).

Twenty-six faculty and staff members from across the University served on the campus Fulbright committee for the 2023-24 cohort. The committee is convened by CFSA; members interview applicants, provide feedback and complete a campus endorsement for each applicant. “Faculty and staff investment in our Fulbright candidates is crucial; our Fulbright work is an all-campus effort,” says Jolynn Parker, director of CFSA.

Kiana Khoshnoud ’23 with some of her students in a classroom in Tajikistan (Photo courtesy of Kiana Khoshnoud)

Students apply for Fulbright awards in the fall and awards are made in the spring. In the current competition for the 2024-25 cohort, 31 of the University’s 39 applicants have been named as semifinalists. Awards will be announced this spring.

Kiana Khoshnoud ’23 majored in public relations with a minor in environment and society at ���ϲ�����. She is currently engaged in an English teaching assistantship in Dushanbe, the capital city of Tajikistan. She frequently travels to smaller villages outside of Dushanbe as well to work with Afghan refugee students.

She says her Fulbright experience has been life changing. “Becoming an educator has brought so much challenge and joy into my life. Tajik students are incredibly respectful, and I have been able to connect with hundreds of students,” she says. “Moreover, on the weekends, I get to pursue one of my passions, horseback riding.”

The classes Khoshnoud teaches are free and open to all, so each class has different students of various ages and English levels. She teaches 20 individual classes a week on a variety of subjects, including writing, basic English, public speaking, diversity and inclusion, critical thinking, filmmaking, magazine-making, current events, short stories, a book club, English conversation, the United States, art classes, geography and more.

Kiana Khoshnoud ’23 on horseback in Tajikistan (Photo courtesy of Kiana Khoshnoud)

“My goal as a teacher here is to bridge cultural gaps between Tajiks and Americans. As one of the first or only Americans many people here meet, it is important to provide the students with as much diverse knowledge about the United States as I can,” she says.

Khoshnoud’s grant includes a language stipend, and she has studied the Cyrillic alphabet and the Tajik language. She is now focused on mastering her Farsi language skills and attempting to learn a bit of Russian. “Many people in Tajikistan are bilingual and speak Tajik and Russian,” she says. “Also, I have been learning a new way of life. Tajikistan is a very unique country. I have learned how to adopt new cultures, and that is quite amazing.”

Khoshnoud says she will never forget her time in Tajikistan for many reasons. “The people here have been so welcoming,” she says. “As a new teacher, I have learned so much about how to manage classes with 40-50 students of different ages and levels. And I have become more confident in myself. I have had to rely on myself to face challenges head-on, and I am becoming a stronger person because of it.”

Fulbright is the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange program. It is also among the largest and most diverse exchange programs in the world. Since its inception in 1946, more than 400,000 participants from all backgrounds and fields—including recent university graduates, teachers, scientists, researchers, artists and others, from the United States and over 160 other countries—have participated in the Fulbright Program. Fulbright alumni have returned to their home countries to make an impact on their communities thanks to their expanded worldview, a deep appreciation for their host country and its people, and a larger network of colleagues and friends.

Fulbright alumni work to make a positive impact on their communities, sectors and the world and have included 41 heads of state or government, 62 Nobel Laureates, 89 Pulitzer Prize winners, 78 MacArthur Fellows and countless leaders and changemakers who carry forward the Fulbright mission of enhancing mutual understanding.

CFSA and the Office of Research will hold a Fulbright Day on Wednesday, March 20, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. in the Shaffer Art Building Atrium.

Fulbright Day will introduce the campus community to the range of opportunities funded through Fulbright. Attendees can learn about Fulbright opportunities available to faculty, students, alumni and staff, and will hear from campus administrators and program alumni about the application process and Fulbright experience.

More information about the��.

Brett Jakubiak

How does affectionate touch benefit relationships? Brett Jakubiak, associate professor of psychology in the College of Arts and Sciences, looks at whether affectionate touch can help people maintain intimacy and offer responsive social support.

Jakubiak focuses on interpersonal support processes that regulate stress, encourage autonomous goal pursuit and enhance relationship quality across the lifespan.

Jakubiak received a CAREER Award from the National Science Foundation in 2022 for “”��to study how affectionate physical contact—apart from verbal expressions of affection—impacts individuals psychologically.

For Valentine’s Day, Jakubiak spoke with SU News about his research and offered some tips to foster both individual and relationship well-being.

Ryan St. Jean ’24, an international relations major in the and the , has been named a 2024 Thomas R. Pickering Graduate Foreign Affairs Fellow. He is one of only 45 recipients chosen from hundreds of applicants from around the nation for this prestigious honor.

Funded by the U.S. Department of State and administered by the Washington Center, the Pickering Fellowship awards recipients two years of financial support, mentoring and professional development to prepare them for a career in the Foreign Service. Fellows also complete a domestic internship at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., and an overseas internship at a U.S. embassy.

“Ryan’s academic accomplishments, internship experiences and impressive understanding of foreign affairs make him an excellent fit for the Pickering Fellowship and a career in the Foreign Service,” says Jolynn Parker, director of the (CFSA).

“Ryan is extraordinarily thoughtful and passionate about the issues facing the United States abroad. I have no doubt that he will be an outstanding representative of our country during his service in the State Department,” adds Adam Crowley, an advisor with CFSA who assisted St. Jean with his application.

A member of the , St Jean recently participated in the Maxwell in Washington program during the fall 2023 semester, where he served as a White House intern in the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs. This past summer, he served as an intern with Freedom House in New York City, an organization that supports and defends democracy around the world. There, he supported Juneteenth and Disability Pride Month events and facilitated international operations through support in field office staffing, logistics and related activities.

St. Jean studied abroad in Strasbourg, France in the fall of 2022, working with Collectif pour l’accueil des solliciteurs d’asile de Strasbourg to design and implement English language instruction for asylum seekers. He also served as an intern with the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and as a peer mentor with ���ϲ�����’s International Student Success Program.

Among his many honors, he is a recipient of the Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship and is a Ronald E. McNair Scholar. He is president of the University’s chapter of Sigma Iota Rho, a member of the Board of Directors (Class of 2024 representative to the National Board) and a deputy chief justice with the Student Association Supreme Court. St. Jean previously served as a member of the University’s Student of Color Advisory Committee.

Get to know what inspires St. Jean, how the Pickering Fellowship will help him achieve his goals, and more!

Founded in 1953, the Marshall Scholarships finance young Americans of high ability to study for a graduate degree at an institution in the United Kingdom in any field of study. Volynets was one of 51 students selected from around the country and is ���ϲ�����’s sixth Marshall Scholar.

Volynets is minoring in museum studies in the�� and Russian in the College of Arts and Sciences. They are a Coronat Scholar and a member of the��.

“To me, being a Marshall Scholar means having an incredible opportunity that I am so grateful for. It means that I get to be a citizen ambassador to the U.K.,” Volynets says. “The U.K. has a very different approach to heritage management than the U.S. does, which I’m very excited to learn from—and I’m looking forward to seeing all of the U.K.’s really interesting heritage sites.”

Volynets plans to pursue a career in safeguarding Ukrainian cultural heritage. They are applying to Oxford University’s master of philosophy program in visual, material and museum anthropology. They plan to write their thesis on the role that Ukrainian cultural institutions have played in the fight for Ukrainian independence.

“Oxford is such an amazing fit for this goal, because of its very active Ukrainian Student Society (including the Oxford-Kharkiv association), work being done by professors to preserve Ukrainian cultural heritage amidst the war, its new Ukrainian archives and the fantastic Slavonic studies department, which hosts weekly open discussions,” they say.

“In addition, the Pitt Rivers Museum at Oxford is doing sector-leading work in museum decolonization, and I’d really love to get involved. Pursuing these opportunities will help me get the skills, experience and knowledge to prepare me to work at an institution safeguarding Ukrainian and other threatened cultural heritages,” Volynets says. “I can’t express how excited I am to become involved with these communities and opportunities next fall.”

“Iona’s extraordinary record of service and leadership in the field of managing and safeguarding cultural heritage made them an outstanding candidate for the Marshall Scholarship,” says Jolynn Parker, director of the (CFSA), which worked with Volynets on their application. “The U.K. is a global leader in heritage management. The opportunity to pursue a master’s at Oxford in this field will position Iona superbly for the career they plan.”

In October 2022, Volynets was named one of three ���ϲ����� recipients of the Voyager Scholarship: the Obama-Chesky Scholarship for Public Service, a new award for juniors committed to public service funded by the Obama Foundation. In April, they were named a 2023 Truman Scholar in recognition of their leadership, service, academic accomplishment and commitment to a career of public service.

In recent months, Volynets studied Russian for eight weeks in Tbilisi, Georgia, on the Critical Language Scholarship. They also visited six other post-Soviet states through the Voyager Scholarship to conduct research for their senior thesis on the diversity of national memory in post-Soviet states. They visited around 70 museums between their Voyager Scholarship and time in Tbilisi.

Volynets recently completed their time as a Lender Center Fellow, where they and other fellows were engaged in a project focused on migrant women’s wellness in the Northside neighborhood. They presented their work on culturally appropriate food bank services at the Environmental Design Research Association conference in Mexico City last June and are working to get funding to expand their research on food banks to other neighborhoods next semester.

Volynets has also served as a service-learning intern at the University’s Shaw Center. “I’ve continued working with the Environmental Design class, which this semester has meant learning a lot about ���ϲ�����’s Southside and the history of the 15th Ward,” they say. “I’ve also been researching how to identify and prevent volunteer burnout so that we can update our volunteer and service-learning guides.” Volynets has also been working in the archives at the Onondaga Historical Association, creating finding guides for their Underground Railroad and Zonta Group collections.

Additionally, they were an intern with Save the Children and the Council of Europe and a Teen Council member for the Smithsonian Galleries of Asian Art. During winter break, they will be working for Save the Children’s Disability Inclusion department again.

Students interested in applying for national scholarships that require University endorsement, such as the Marshall Scholarship, should complete an “intent to apply” form with Center for Fellowship and Scholarship Advising by the end of June 2024 and plan to work with��.

Emcees David Ojo and Qingyang Liu welcomed members of the University community to the 39th Annual International Thanksgiving Dinner. (Photo by Charles Wainwright)

More than 700 first-year international students and members of the University community recently came together to celebrate the University’s 39th Annual International Thanksgiving Celebration. A beloved University tradition, it is believed to be the only celebration of its kind on a college campus in the United States.

The event, sponsored by the Chancellor’s House and the Center for International Services, was held in the Schine Student Center’s Goldstein Auditorium on Nov. 16. Ph.D. students Qingyang Liu and David Ojo served as the evening’s emcees.

“Thanksgiving is a time to cherish, a time to reflect on the things we are grateful for and a time to share warmth and joy with friends and family,” said Liu. “While the historical origins of Thanksgiving are well-known, tonight we want to focus on the values that make this day extraordinary.”

Bailey Tlachac, a member of the Oneida Nation Bear Clan, and Regina Jones, a member of the Oneida Nation Turtle Clan, offer the Native American Blessing. (Photo by Charles Wainwright)

“Thanksgiving transcends borders and backgrounds; it’s a universal celebration of gratitude. No matter where we come from, we can all appreciate the value of being thankful for the blessings in our lives,” Ojo said. “We’re thankful for the opportunities we’ve been given, for the support of our friends and family, and for the friendships that connect us despite our diverse backgrounds.”

Dr. Ruth Chen, professor of practice in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, co-hosted the event with Center for International Services Director Juan Tavares. “I am thankful our international students are part of the Orange family. You bring your culture, language and traditions with you,” she said. “We learn from you, just as you learn from your professors and fellow students.”

Students gather around Associate Director of Drumlins Food and Beverage Joe Sidoni as he carves the turkey. (Photo by Charles Wainright)

Started by the University in the 1980s by then-Evangelical Chaplain Rev. T.E. Koshy, the celebration is intended to introduce new international students to the American Thanksgiving experience. For nearly four decades, the event has served as a celebration of cross-cultural friendship, international community and fellowship. Koshy’s son, Jay, the University’s Evangelical Chaplain, offered the invocation, and his grandson, Josh ’25, was also in attendance.

The Native American blessing was given by Bailey Tlachac, program coordinator of the Native Student Program and member of the Oneida Nation Bear Clan, and Regina Jones, member of the Oneida Nation Turtle Clan, who retired last year as assistant director of the University’s Native Student Program.

Dinner is served (Photo by Charles Wainwright)

Food Services prepared and served traditional Thanksgiving fare: 750 pounds of turkey, 20 gallons of gravy, 300 pounds of mashed potatoes, 200 pounds of stuffing, 150 pounds each of corn and sweet potatoes and 160 pies. Kosher and Halal turkey and vegetarian options were also served. Vendors from the greater ���ϲ����� area donated all the food, linens and table decorations.

During dinner, table hosts—faculty, staff and community members—engaged attendees in conversation and answered questions about the history and traditions of Thanksgiving.

A highlight of the evening was the ceremonial carving of the turkey on the Goldstein Auditorium stage. Students, with camera phones in hand, eagerly crowded around Associate Director of Drumlins Food and Beverage Joe Sidoni as he carved the turkey—an annual tradition at the event.

The Hendricks Chapel Choir performed “El Nacimiento” from “Navidad Nuestra” by Ariel Ramirez and “Oye” (Trad. Ghanaian) arranged by James Varrick Armaah to close the evening. (Photo by Charles Wainwright)

The Hendricks Chapel Choir performed “El Nacimiento” from “Navidad Nuestra” by Ariel Ramirez and “Oye” (Trad. Ghanaian) arranged by James Varrick Armaah to close the evening. Christian Protestant Chaplain Devon Bartholomew gave the benediction.

Leytisha Jack, a first-year doctoral student from St. Vincent and the Grenadines, attended the dinner last year and again this year. “I was even more excited about this year’s Thanksgiving dinner because our table’s host has Caribbean roots like my own. There was laughter, wholesome rapport and learning of new things because we were all open with each other.”

“The Thanksgiving dinner allows us to forget about the academic settings and responsibilities (momentarily) and helps us to appreciate this festive, rich and unique American culture,” Jack says. “It’s one of the events that I truly think is most organized, relevant and impacts international students in a profound way. … This dinner is where friendships are formed, and students are reminded that there is a great group of SU faculty and staff who represent home and who support us.”

Table host Maggie Washburn, administrative specialist with the Barnes Center at the Arch health promotion team, and her guests take a selfie. (Photo by Maggie Washburn)

Maggie Washburn, administrative specialist with the Barnes Center at the Arch health promotion team, hosted a table for the first year. “My coworker, Vicente Cuevas, encouraged the rest of our office to consider this opportunity as he has done it before and found it very rewarding. I heeded the call and was not disappointed,” she says.

The students at her table were primarily from India. “We had a lovely conversation about traditions and food. Even better for me, the students spoke with me about the Cricket World Cup happening that weekend between India and Australia and how they would gather in the wee hours of the morning to watch the match together,” Washburn says. “They were very excited, and I truly enjoyed hearing their excitement and discussing food and sports with them. We did not part before taking pictures and a selfie!”

Following a meal and time for interfaith conversation, the students traveled to the East ���ϲ����� headquarters of the We Rise Above The Streets Recovery Outreach nonprofit organization, where they worked together to fill bags with hygiene items, warm socks and snacks to be distributed during the organization’s Thanksgiving outreach event that would be held later that week.

Students and Hendricks Chapel chaplains and staff members engage in interfaith dialogue. (Photo by Micah Greenberg ’26)

The idea for an interfaith day of service and learning started this past summer with the Muslim Student Association and ���ϲ����� Hillel, due in part to the strong relationship of Rabbi Ethan Bair and Imam Amir Durić. While the original plan was for a Muslim and Jewish partnership event, over the past weeks Bair, Durić and their respective student leaders felt it was important to broaden the event to include more than the Muslim and Jewish campus communities.

“To share the experience with other groups was, in my view, a most wonderful idea,” says Hendricks Chapel Dean Brian Konkol. “We then invited all 25 religious and spiritual life groups associated with Hendricks Chapel to attend, and the Interfaith Day of Service and Learning was supported by representatives of various traditions and identities.”

During the luncheon conversation in the Hendricks Chapel Noble Room, students gathered into smaller groups of three to four people for discussion, including things about others’ faith traditions that they admire. “It was a wonderful way to embrace connections by embracing conversations,” Konkol says.

Finished bags packed by students from Hendricks Chapel. (Photo by Micah Greenberg ’26)

When the students arrived in East ���ϲ�����, they were warmly welcomed by Al-amin Muhammad, founder and executive director of We Rise Above The Streets. The nonprofit organization provides assistance to the unhoused and underrepresented in the community, particularly through its “Sandwich Saturday” program and other initiatives.

Muhammad shared his personal experience of being unhoused for a decade. He was able to turn his life around, embrace his faith and graduate from college. He is now a full-time advocate and activist, and, since moving to ���ϲ����� in 2015, has led outreach efforts to thousands of individuals and food-insecure families.

In speaking with the students about his experiences and his work, Muhammad encouraged them to “attach empathy” to all that they do.

Krutartha Nagesh ’25, a computer science major in the , identifies with the Hindu tradition. “The culture and tradition that I come from places Mukti (liberation) as the highest goal in one’s life,” Nagesh says. “The ancient yet timeless wisdom of the Rishis (enlightened beings) recognizes Karma Yoga as one of the paths to achieving this ultimate goal. It is the path of service and selfless action for the upliftment and well-being of all life.”

Participants in the Interfaith Day of Service at We Rise Above the Streets gather for a group photo. (Photo by Micah Greenberg ’26)

Nagesh says the day was a chance for all of those participating to walk the path of Karma. “It allowed me to keep myself aside; my likes and dislikes, my identifications and biases, to do something that will positively impact the local ���ϲ����� area. I got to experience how seva (selfless action) can not only make a difference in the community but can also bring people from diverse backgrounds together.”

“Attaching empathy to everything that we do, in my opinion, can only happen when our sense of inclusion expands. To have an expanded sense of inclusion, we need to keep our differences aside and see how we can relate with each other,” Nagesh says. “To me, Al-amin Muhammad is a Karma Yogi. I wish to be one myself and also hope to inspire others around me to also take up the responsibility of selflessly serving others so this planet can thrive.”

Julia Ronkin ’24, an inclusive elementary and special education major in the , identifies with Jewish tradition. She took part in the day of service mainly for two reasons. “The first being that I believe interfaith work is so important for students on campus to take part in. In a time where there is so much divide, we as young people can show that there is unity and support for one another on our campus. My second reason for participating is the positive impact of connecting with other students in the broader context of the ���ϲ����� community,” she says.

Mian Muhammad Abdul Hamid ’25, an information management and technology major in the , is of the Muslim tradition. He participated in an interfaith community service event last year with Hillel packaging diapers.

“I know we all share a common interest and goal; to serve the community for the greater good. … During and after the event, I was thinking in my head, ‘this seems like something I can do.’ Just packaging items for the community whilst having a conversation with a peer from another faith was definitely a fun way to bond and was therapeutic.”

Al-amin Muhammad’s encouragement to “attach empathy” to all that they do struck a chord with Hamid. “I was thinking of packaging everything with love and care. ‘The juices I was packing in every bag are going to someone who will really enjoy it—someone who is in need,’ I thought,” Hamid says. “Hence, whilst packaging every item, I made sure to be packaging everything with love and for the sake of God. In my faith, ‘Sadaqah’ or charity, is a notable act that one can do to increase the consciousness of God. Moving forward, I am thinking about ways to help the community—not just from a faith standpoint, but to those who are less fortunate.”

The day was also an important one for the chaplains who participated. “I was grateful to serve our community alongside my friends. I admire the work that each of our chaplains puts into supporting and mentoring their faith communities,” says Christian Protestant Chaplain Devon Bartholomew. “This service opportunity gave me time reflect on the incredibly important work that I get to be part of at ���ϲ�����.”

Konkol was inspired by watching the students engaging in service and learning. “I believe the students chose to model the type of world they wish to live in, rather than mirror the type of world they currently live within, and in doing so they are indeed an example for others to follow,” he says. “They showed that one can be both committed and compassionate, devout and curious, faithful and hospitable. Once again, I am left honored to witness such outstanding students choosing to lead in service to our common good through religious and spiritual life.”

The offers study abroad awards of up to $5,000 to undergraduate students in good standing who are U.S. citizens and Pell Grant (federal financial aid) recipients, and up to $8,000 for undergraduates studying abroad and learning critical need languages (such as Mandarin Chinese or Arabic).

Yasmin Nayrouz in London

The opportunities that the Gilman Scholarship provides align well with the University’s newly released academic strategic plan, “.”

“���ϲ����� has long prioritized study abroad as fundamental to our mission of preparing students to be globally engaged citizens. We are also committed to increasing the diversity of our study abroad cohorts and to making international education an option for all of our students, regardless of their financial circumstances. The Gilman Scholarship sits at the intersection of these goals,” says Vice Chancellor, Provost and Chief Academic Officer .

The University has prioritized the Gilman Scholarship as it supports meaningful international experiences for students and allows the University to increase equity in global programs. “���ϲ����� is honored to be recognized for our work with the Gilman Scholarship. This award has allowed even more of our students to have deep—and often life-changing—global experiences,” Ritter says.

Gilman applications are a collaborative effort between the University’s (CFSA) and offices. ���ϲ����� Abroad is dedicated to helping students choose study abroad programs that align with their academic and cultural interests, and CFSA has taken the lead on planning outreach to eligible students and working with Gilman applicants through writing workshops and one-on-one advising meetings to review drafts of their application materials.

Nayrouz on a hike in Scotland

“Studying abroad provides students with unparalleled opportunities to advance their studies, personal growth and professional skills in ways that help them to thrive in diverse local and global communities and workplaces,” says , assistant provost and executive director of ���ϲ����� Abroad. “Helping students apply for prestigious scholarships like the Gilman is one way to advance our commitment to making international study available to all students.”

“The Gilman application process provides students an opportunity outside of the classroom to strengthen their writing skills and refine their academic and professional interests,” says Adam Crowley, scholarship advisor with CFSA.�� “Supporting our Gilman applicants is a campuswide effort. We are proud of the success of our students and honored by this recognition.”

Yasmin Nayrouz ’24, an English major in the and public relations major in the , received a Gilman Scholarship and studied abroad in London in the Fall 2022 semester.

“It was the best semester I’ve ever had. I got to take such interesting courses and immersed myself in the city,” she says. Nayrouz took a Shakespeare class; a class about multicultural London, where she learned about the city’s diverse history and neighborhoods; a class about America from a foreign perspective; and a class about race and gender in British media.

On weekends, Nayrouz took the opportunity to visit other countries. “My semester abroad also opened my eyes to how the U.K. and other European countries have helped refugees, as I spoke and volunteered with some. This reinforced my interest in helping migrant populations,” she says.

Eligible students interested in the Gilman Scholarship should reach out to CFSA at cfsa@syr.edu. The deadline for spring applications is March 7, 2024.

Members of the ���ϲ����� Wind Ensemble and Hendricks Chapel Choir perform at St. Paul’s Church in London. (Photo by Jennifer Klock)

These performances had a special meaning for the musicians and their directors—they were a way to pay tribute to the 270 people lost in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie on Dec. 21, 1988. Among those lost were 35 students returning home after a semester abroad through ���ϲ�����’s Division of International Programs Abroad (now ���ϲ����� Abroad).

The tour, planned by the College of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) in the lead up to the tragedy’s 35th anniversary, was meant to honor those who were lost in the bombing, strengthen the bonds that have grown between ���ϲ����� and Scotland in the ensuing years, and give the student musicians the experience of an international tour.

Milton Laufer, associate professor and director of the Sentor School of Music in the College of Visual and Performing Arts, offers welcoming remarks prior to the Wind Ensemble concert at St. Paul’s Church in London. (Photo by Jennifer Klock)

Planning and curating the remembrance tour began in the summer of 2021 with a conversation between Milton Laufer, associate professor and director of VPA’s Setnor School of Music, and Bradley Ethington, professor of applied music and performance (conducting) and Timothy Diem, assistant professor of applied music and performance (conducting), about meaningful performance experiences for the wind ensemble.

“They suggested curating a performance centered around the 35th anniversary of the Flight 103 bombing during 2023—that the numeric significance of the year and the number of students we lost that fateful day should be memorialized somehow,” Laufer says.

Anne Laver, associate professor of applied music and performance (organ) in the Setnor School and University organist, and Joseph-Ossei Little, Hendricks Chapel Organ Scholar, rehearse at the organ at St. Paul’s Church in London. (Photo by Jennifer Klock)

After conversations with college and University leadership and with Hendricks Chapel Choir Director Jose “Peppie” Calvar and Dean Brian Konkol, and extensive planning by Setnor School administrators Michelle Taylor and Megan Carlsen, the tour was born. The trip was made possible with the support of Chancellor Kent Syverud; Vice Chancellor Provost and Chief Academic Officer Gretchen Ritter and Trustee Judith Greenberg Seinfeld ’56.

Student musicians and Michael Tick, dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts, pose for a photo outside of Buckingham Palace in London. (Photo by Jennifer Klock)

“Two concurrent tours of two distinct ensembles; six concerts in three cities at five venues culminating in Lockerbie over the course of eight days. After nearly two years of planning, the day finally came for us to depart,” Laufer says. “I was overcome with emotions throughout the trip—from hearing these incredible students perform beautifully in venues of historical consequence to experiencing the Remembrance Garden alongside them. It was one of the most deeply personal and beautiful, gratifying experiences of my life. I could not have been prouder.”

The Hendricks Chapel Choir, 35 members strong, was led by Calvar, associate professor of applied music and performance (conducting) and assistant director of choral activities in the Setnor School. The Wind Ensemble, 65 members strong, was directed by Ethington and Diem. Anne Laver, associate professor of applied music and performance (organ) and University organist, and Joseph Ossei-Little, a graduate student and Hendricks Chapel Organ Scholar, provided organ accompaniment to the choir.

Brian Konkol, dean of Hendricks Chapel, was the guest preacher at Tundergarth Church prior to the Hendricks Chapel Choir performance.

Laufer; Michael Tick, dean of VPA; Dean Konkol; Elisa Dekaney, professor of music education and VPA associate dean for research, graduate studies and internationalization; and Taylor, assistant director for operations in the Setnor School and “tour mom,” also accompanied the group. Travel arrangements were facilitated by Kipling Tours.

The musical selections performed on the tour were carefully chosen. “Energy and Light,” a celebration of and a reflection on life, was specifically composed for the Wind Ensemble by Natalie Draper, assistant professor of music composition, history and theory in the Setnor School. The St. Paul’s performance was the piece’s European premiere.

“Such Splendor,” performed by the choir, was created by U.K.-based composer Cecilia McDowall, based on a poem written by Pan Am 103 victim and ���ϲ����� student Nicholas Vrenios.

Peppie Calvar, associate professsor of applied music and performance (conducting) in the Setnor School and Hendricks Chapel Choir director, leads the choir performance at Tundergarth Church. (Photo by Jennifer Klock)

“The text happens to evoke significant meaning when contextualized with Pan Am 103,” says Calvar. “We are grateful to Elizabeth Vrenios, Nicholas’ mother, for her graciousness in allowing us to use this text. We hope the piece and our performance serve as a lasting monument to the Remembrance Scholars Program mission to ‘Look Back and Act Forward.’”

“Angels Rising,” a piece commissioned by the Setnor School and performed by the Wind Ensemble, was composed by prominent American composer Frank Ticheli.

“This work is composed as a deeply moving tribute to the memories of those whose lives were lost on that tragic day in 1988,” says Ethington. “It is a work of sorrow and of hope, a transcendent musical portrayal of the human condition and the beauty and fragility of life itself. This remarkable work will be forever associated with ���ϲ����� as it is performed around the world in the years to come.”

Bradley Ethington, professor of applied music and performance (conducting) in the Setnor School of Music, offers remarks prior to the Wind Ensemble performance at the Lockerbie Town Hall. (Photo by Jennifer Klock)

“Such Splendor” and “Angels Rising” were performed by the Hendricks Chapel Choir and Wind Ensemble, respectively, at the annual Remembrance Scholar Convocation, held in Hendricks Chapel on Oct. 20.

For Ronald Ditchek ’23, a member of the choir, the trip was especially poignant. Ditchek was one of three Remembrance Scholar alumni, including Micayla MacDougall ’22, G’23 and Tyler Youngman ’20, G’21, a Ph.D. student in the School of Information Studies, who performed as part of the Hendricks Chapel Choir (MacDougall also played the bassoon with the Wind Ensemble). During his year as a Remembrance Scholar, Ditchek represented Nicholas Vrenios and continues to do so.

A piper plays outside the Remembrance Room at Tundergarth Church in Lockerbie, Scotland. (Photo by Jennifer Klock)

One of Ditchek’s best memories of the trip is signing the book that was kept in a dedicated Remembrance room at Tundergarth Church. “Signing it meant so��much to me because it represented how a piece of me was left in Lockerbie. It signified a vow as to my commitment to looking back and acting forward for the 270 lives lost on Pan Am Flight 103,” he says.

Ditchek says visiting the Pan Am Flight 103 memorial in Dryfesdale Cemetery in Lockerbie was another major moment. “I saw a new way of remembering. I was able to lay stones for people who were just like us and learn new stories about the SU students and other passengers who were on the flight,” he says. “When I paid tribute to the victims at the garden, I did everything: said prayers for the lives lost, told stories to other SU students about those who were on the flight and thought about how my experiences in Lockerbie should be told to others, so the legacies of those on the flight are not lost.”

Student musicians outside Edinburgh Castle (Photo by Jennifer Klock)

Ben O’Connell, a graduate student in choral conducting in the Setnor School, says the trip left him speechless. “I can’t put to words the kindness and embrace we experienced from the people in Lockerbie. It is truly inspiring how welcoming and gracious the people are after all these years,” he says. “Seeing the memorials in person in the environment where the tragedy occurred put a true humanistic aspect that was missing from my experience with Remembrance Week, one that I wish all people could experience.”

O’Connell even found a personal connection to one of the victims, Colleen Brunner, who grew up in the same town as his mom.

Alie Fitt, an oboist in the Wind Ensemble, says she gained a deep appreciation for Remembrance Week and for the ���ϲ����� students who represent the lives that were lost.

“When Dr. Ethington and Dr. Diem were preparing us to go abroad, we had many conversations about the importance of why we were going and the impact that this had on the ���ϲ����� community. The true weight of the attack, though, didn’t really hit me until I was standing in front of the memorial in Lockerbie,” she says. “In that moment, I realized that these victims were the same age as me, enjoying college life and friends, and had goals and dreams just as I do. … Taking part in this Remembrance Tour was such a moving experience and one I will never forget.”

Peppie Calvar leads the choir at St. Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh. (Photo by Jennifer Klock)

Joseph Ossei-Little, graduate student, Hendricks Chapel Organ Scholar and member of the Hendricks Chapel Choir, says the trip connected him on a personal level with the incident that happened nearly 35 years ago.

“Singing in Tundergarth Church, which overlooks the field where the nose cone of the plane fell that day, signified a true connection for me. I was able to share in their grief and comfort everyone present with my voice and music,” he says. Performing “Such Splendor,” he says, brought him to tears.

“It gave me that resolve, in my heart, that never again should such acts of violence be allowed to happen and how I, can in my small way, share kindness and love to make the world a better place,” Ossei-Little says.

Ben Vermilyea, a graduate student, trombonist and graduate associate conductor with the Wind Ensemble, says the whole week was an extremely powerful and moving experience. “I was fortunate enough to conduct one of the pieces at the concert in the Lockerbie Town Hall. It was amazing to feel the connection between the students and the audience in the room,” he says. “Even though we had never met before, we were bonded by the music being made in remembrance to the events of 35 years earlier. I have never had as powerful of a music making experience than I had performing in the Lockerbie Town Hall, particularly when we performed ‘Angels Rising.’”

Timothy Diem, assistant professor of applied music and performance (conducting) in the Setnor School and Michelle Taylor, assistant director of operations in the Setnor School and “tour mom,” are pictured with members of the Wind Ensemble in St. Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh.

The trip was the first experience of traveling outside of North America for percussionist�� and graduate student Alex Talerico G’24.

“The thing that stood out to me the most was just how accepting and friendly the people of Lockerbie were when we visited. The positive relationship between the town and the University was palpable and I was approached and accepted with open arms despite being a stranger to every person I met,” he says. “Performing musical works in Lockerbie Town Hall��specifically dedicated to the tragedy was incredibly poignant and evoked feelings I’m not sure I’ll ever experience again.”

Allison Pasco, a graduate student in orchestral conducting and music education and a flutist, has long felt a connection to Remembrance. She grew up in Oswego, New York, with Remembrance Scholar alumnus Tyler Youngman. “The trip was one of the most special and memorable opportunities throughout my years at ���ϲ�����,” she says.

Pasco had two prominent solos in “Angels Rising.” “It made me think of all of the Remembrance Scholars I have known throughout the years and of Lynne Hartunian and Colleen Brunner, the two SUNY Oswego students who were victims in the tragedy,” Pasco says.

“The ���ϲ����� Wind Ensemble’s concert tour of the United Kingdom with the Hendricks Chapel Choir was a remarkable and memorable experience for our students,” says Ethington. “The concerts in London, Lockerbie and Edinburgh were once-in-a-lifetime performances before enthusiastic audiences.”

“Our hosts in Lockerbie were gracious and welcoming, and our shared history in remembering the tragic events of December 1988 resonates from generation to generation,” he says.

Video by Nick Dekaney ’26, a broadcast journalism major in the Newhouse School and a member of the Hendricks Chapel Choir

A Goon Squad member helps a student move into Sadler Hall in fall 2022. (Photo by Marilyn Hesler)

Lauren Murphy, director of residence life, says it’s good to strategize with your roommate in advance to avoid duplication of items. “You don’t need two televisions, for example,” she says. One of the most unique things Murphy has seen: a pop-up steam tent/sauna. That’s definitely not allowed; it’s important to keep in mind that you are sharing a limited space with another person or people.

Bring along things that will make your room feel like home and will make you comfortable, such as pictures, stuffed animals and décor. “It’s those little things that make a difference,” Murphy says.

Rachel Adelakun, a senior international relations major in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and College of Arts and Sciences and president of the Residence Hall Association, advises making lists to keep track of what you need and what your roommate is bringing. She also suggests some practical items you might not think of, such as reusable shopping bags and a professional outfit.

Some examples of what to bring:

• Bedding, including XL twin sheets (for residence halls, full sheets for South Campus) and a mattress pad
• Clothing for multiple seasons. Remember, ���ϲ����� is hot in late August and winter weather arrives just a few short months later. It’s important to have a warm coat, boots, gloves/mittens and a hat as you traverse campus.
• A fan
• Storage containers and Command strips
• Power strips with surge protection
• Personal hygiene items, shower shoes and a bathrobe
• Laundry basket/bag and detergent
• Umbrella and rain jacket
• Cleaning supplies and toilet paper (for South Campus apartments)

Examples of what not to bring:

• Large appliances, including air conditioners (only refrigerators less than 5 cubic feet and microwaves less than 1,000 watts are permitted)
• Fire safety hazards, including space heaters, candles and incense
• Cooking appliances, such as air fryers, toasters and grills
• Wall-mounted televisions
• Large furniture items
• Pets (service or emotional support animals must be approved)
• Expensive or irreplaceable collectibles or jewelry

Lists of both suggested and prohibited items can be found on the .

And it is important to remember, don’t panic. If you need something you left behind, stores are nearby!

The��, organized by the (SOURCE), celebrates the culmination of undergraduates’ summer efforts and the array of topics they examined through many research and creative programs across campus.

A student gives a poster presentation during the 2022 event. (Photo by Angela Ryan)

The University community is invited to attend two presentation events. Nine students are presenting their work virtually on Wednesday, Aug. 9, from 2 to 4 p.m. on Zoom. Another 100 students will present in a poster session Thursday, Aug. 10, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Panasci Lounge in Schine Student Center. A celebration picnic will follow on the Huntington Beard Crouse patio.

Students include participants in SOURCE initiatives as well as other programs, including the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP); Chemistry and BioInspired Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) programs; the SUNY Upstate Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program; Renée Crown University Honors Program; Women in Science and Engineering (WISE)-supported students and others.

Most of the presenters are undergraduates at ���ϲ�����, although visiting students from other colleges who have worked with ���ϲ����� or SUNY Upstate faculty through several programs will also share their summer work, says Kate Hanson, director of the SOURCE. Over 225 students across all the campus programs were research-active this summer, working both in-person and remotely.

Participating students are from a variety of disciplines, primarily STEM fields. Among the topics undergraduates have been examining this summer are:

• Adverse Childhood Experiences and Substance Abuse: A Literature Review and Future Directions
• A Frequency Feedback and Color Transfer Approach to Improved Coherence in Video Style Transfer With Diffusion Models
• Functional Characterization of Systemic RNA Interference in C. elegans
• Media Coverage of Sickle Cell Disease and Hydroxyurea Use, Access, Side Effects and Policy in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Content Analysis
• Solid State Solar Collector for Electricity Generation in Concrete Sidewalks
• The Role of the KIT Tyrosine Pathway in Primordial Follicle Formation in Neonatal Mouse Ovaries

“The SOURCE Summer Research Symposium brings together students working with mentors and programs across the University to share and celebrate their summer research work,” says Hanson. “By engaging in research and creative activity during the summer months, students truly focus on their projects and make immense strides while developing valuable skills and building strong relationships with faculty mentors.”

Student Researchers

Catherine Solis, a senior biology and neuroscience major in the , has been researching the behavioral and cognitive effects of early life adversity in adolescent CD-1 mice through maternal separation with , associate professor of psychology. “I am focusing on how spatial and working memory deficits develop over time in the mice to adulthood in order to correlate how early life adversity in humans (neglect, abuse and the foster care system) affect human children in real life,” Solis says. “Ultimately, our lab aims to understand the environmental and social factors leading to the development of such cognitive disorders as ADHD [attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder].”

Catherine Solis

Solis has also worked on projects in the lab studying the effects of both pharmacological and nonpharmacological solutions, and plans to begin drug studies to determine the difference in environmentally induced early life adversity mouse models and drug induced models.

She is a participant in the LSAMP program, which promotes educational opportunities for students from underrepresented communities to study and pursue careers in STEM fields.

“I have been with LSAMP for a year now and I’m excited to continue with it for my senior year; the program has greatly contributed to my professional development in college so far and preparation for graduate school applications,” Solis says. “LSAMP has allowed me to grow as a student and researcher, participate in and present at two national conferences and has led me to realize I wanted to pursue a Ph.D. in neuroscience after my undergraduate studies.”

Mrigayu Ghosh, a sophomore biomedical engineering and biochemistry major at the University of Texas (UT) at Austin, has engaged in research with , associate professor of biomedical and chemical engineering and Samuel and Carol Nappi Research Scholar in the , through the program. Shikha Nangia, the program’s director, played a pivotal role in securing funding for the grant.

Mrigayu Ghosh

Ghosh, a seasoned researcher through previous opportunities, has been working on the purification and characterization of extracellular vesicles from mesenchymal stem cells for applications in tissue regeneration.

“I’ve wanted to research stem cell biology for a long time, so I’m really fortunate to have this experience,” he says. “I love the potential of stem cell research and am looking forward to bringing back what I’ve learned to UT and continuing my research in Dr. Aaron Baker’s lab, which studies the mechanobiology of stem cells.”

After graduating from UT, Ghosh plans to pursue a Ph.D. and embark on a career as a professor. “I’m grateful to have enhanced my research, writing and presentation skills throughout this program as all the skills I’ve acquired will be highly relevant in my academic and professional career moving forward,” he says.

Quinn Carletta, a sophomore graphic design major in the , has been working with fellow students Michaela Fry and Mattea Vecera and , assistant professor of television, radio and film, on research for a documentary film through the . Carletta has worked to creating slide and presentation decks and social media content.

“Working with Professor Hamilton has given me a new perspective on how I can work with clients in the future,” Carletta says. “Similarly, it has impacted how I approach working on new projects since I have a better grasp on the questions to ask before starting a design request now.”

Other Presentations

The Summer REU fellows and their mentors spent the summer working on 12 cutting-edge computational social science research projects. They shared their findings during an interactive poster session on July 28.

Also on Thursday, Aug. 10, five McNair Scholars will present their summer research beginning at 1 p.m. in 241 Sims Hall. The University community is invited to attend.

The new unit was supported by University administrators, including Dr. Vincent Lamparella, then director of health services; Peter Baigent, vice president for student affairs and Dr. Bruce Baker, a local orthopedic surgeon who worked with the athletics department. The 10 charter members of the organization received 20 hours of in-house training and operated with rudimentary medical equipment, including a used ambulance.

Members tend to a victim at an accident scene (Photo courtesy of SU Ambulance)

“The medical crisis unit was thought of as just a bunch of kids playing ambulance up on the Hill,” says Steve Busa ’83, an architect and EMT in the Skaneateles community who served in leadership roles with the medical crisis unit from 1976-83.

The late 1970s were years of uncertainty—the unit almost folded in 1977 because of the condition of the ambulance. Help came through from the Student Association and Health Services. By the end of that year, the unit was fully operational and began providing 24/7 coverage for the campus community.

The unit officially became known as ���ϲ����� Ambulance (SUA) in 1978. The rebranding was a major milestone, with increased emphasis on recruitment, EMT training and new vehicles. Its membership—and reach—grew steadily over the years. When the Carrier Dome opened in 1980, SUA was at the forefront of providing critical coverage for events that brought thousands of fans to campus.

Calls for Service

Today, SUA has nearly 100 members, first-year through graduate students, responding to emergencies ranging from minor to life threatening. The organization operates under the umbrella of Health Care at the Barnes Center at The Arch and has been led by Paul Smyth, emergency services manager and a veteran paramedic, for the past decade. Smyth is assisted by five student field supervisors. SUA exceeded 1,200 calls for emergency service this academic year.

A dispatcher in the early years (Photo courtesy of SU Ambulance)

Membership in SUA requires a significant commitment. It is open to all regardless of prior experience, and those interested go through an application and interview process. If selected, they undergo in-house training and testing, followed by the 150-hour New York State emergency medical technician class.

“Our members devote an extraordinary amount of time and effort to serving the campus community,” says Smyth. “I am proud of the dedication that they all have to living out SUA’s mission and values, and to providing a critical service here at ���ϲ�����.”

SUA is strongly supported by Chancellor Kent Syverud and Dr. Ruth Chen, professor of practice in the College of Engineering and Computer Science. Chancellor Syverud offered remarks at SUA’s recent anniversary banquet, which drew over 200 current members and alumni.

Chancellor Syverud spoke of his pleasant surprise in coming to ���ϲ����� and finding scores of students running their own ambulance service, providing virtual 911 service to the campus and vicinity and at sports events and concerts.

“And the students ran it all, with their own leadership and planning. And they come from every school and college, every race and background and creed. And they like each other and they talk to each other, including all night shifts when they are helping others,” he said. “… ���ϲ����� is better because of SU Ambulance.”

SUA operates with two New York State basic life support ambulances as well as a University supervisor’s vehicle. SUA staffs all major events on campus, including athletic events in the JMA Wireless Dome. The organization maintains a medical support unit used for large campus events and serves as mutual aid to city/county agencies for multiple casualty incidents. SUA also provides critical cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and Stop the Bleed trainings for members of the community.

Through the years, the medical crisis unit and later SUA have answered calls across a spectrum, ranging from sports injuries to diabetic emergencies to full cardiac arrests. They have included the April 9, 1978, University Avenue fire that claimed the lives of four ���ϲ����� firefighters and a 1982 incident in the Dome in which a ���ϲ����� cheerleader was badly injured. In 1984, SUA members delivered the baby of a University staff member.

By 1993, SUA members were required to be New York State-certified emergency medical technicians. The next year, the organization, which had been student run since its inception, moved under the umbrella of then Health Services. Also in 1994, SUA was named a New York State Emergency Medical Services Agency of the Year.

Life Lessons

Crucially, SUA has served as an important training ground for students, providing life lessons and experience that has served them in their careers and in service to their communities.

Alumnus Howard Riesel ’76 was a member of the medical crisis unit from September 1974 through May 1976. “My time spent riding the ambulance at ���ϲ����� resulted in changing career paths from television production to the field of mental health and substance abuse treatment,” he shared on Facebook.

Alumna Dr. Kate Bunch ’15, a resident neurosurgeon at the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics, joined SUA in spring 2012. She became a field supervisor, personnel supervisor, training supervisor, field training officer and secretary, earned her EMT-B and dispatcher certifications and was certified as a basic life support/CPR instructor.

Her time at SUA included her first time performing CPR and her first mass casualty incident—a bus accident on Interstate 81. “What made these calls a bit more memorable was that they were introductions to incidents I see as a physician and surgeon now,” she says.

Bunch says that her experience at SUA gave her valuable life lessons. “What SUA taught me was far less about medicine (although I certainly learned some) and was far more about leadership, communication and patient advocacy,” she says.

Dr. Anthony Schramm ’16 joined SUA in his first year in spring 2013. He was one of four field supervisors during his senior year.

Schramm’s first call as a newly appointed crew chief was for a fall from an unknown height. “Upon arrival, we quickly realized it was more critical than we expected. Being able to care for your peers during some of the worst days of their lives is something I did not take for granted; it was truly special,” he says.

SUA members pictured following an event in the JMA Wireless Dome. SUA provides coverage for Dome events.

Schramm is now chief resident at New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Columbia University Medical Center in the Department of Anesthesiology. “To excel at SUA one must learn how to think critically, communicate effectively, triage and anticipate next steps. These skills are invaluable to a young professional beyond our years at ���ϲ�����,” Schramm says.

SUA alumnus Chris Jennison ’12, G’16 is an attorney with the Federal Aviation Administration. He also serves his community in Maryland as an EMT.

“My experience as a college EMT definitely influenced my decision to pursue a career in law. I often encountered situations where patients’ needs were impacted by legal and regulatory barriers, and this made me realize the importance of advocating for policy changes that could improve patient outcomes,” he says.

As an employment attorney, Jennison works to navigate the complex web of employment laws and regulations.�� “Whether I’m working with an individual manager to address a specific issue or advocating for policy changes at a higher level, my experience as a college EMT continues to influence my work and inspire me to make a positive difference in people’s lives,” he says.

SUA members Ryann Washington and Kayina Ross

Caring for the Community

For Ryann Washington, a sophomore biology and forensic science major in the College of Arts and Sciences, SUA has given her the opportunity to pursue her passion for health care and make a difference in her community.

“As an EMT, I have been able to provide vital care to patients and improve my knowledge of the health care profession. Being a Black woman in this field is essential, as representation is crucial to ensure patients feel comfortable and receive proper treatment,” she says. “I joined SUA not only to obtain my EMT license but to be an advocate for all students of diverse backgrounds so that they receive the care and attention they deserve in a hospital setting.”

Washington says her work with SUA has helped her learn the value of teamwork. “I hope to inspire other students of color to pursue careers in health care and to feel empowered to take on leadership roles in their communities,” Washington says.

Abby Presson, a junior from Arlington, Virginia, majoring in magazine, news and digital journalism in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, joined SUA in fall 2020 as a first-year student. She came to SUA as a fully certified EMT, joining her dad in service. She continues to be an active member of the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department in Fairfax, Virginia, and works shifts for the VVFD when she is home.

Presson is a field supervisor. In addition to her academic schedule, she works one to two 15-hour shifts and a rotating 24-hour weekend shift.

“Joining SUA not only gave me a space where I could grow without fear of judgement, but it gave me a supportive network of friends who have been there for me every step of the way,” she says. “I’m forever going to be grateful to SUA for giving me this environment and support network, and for trusting me to help lead the organization and pass down all the knowledge that was given to me over the years.”

While SUA’s early beginnings were filled with challenges, the performance of its crews over the years have made it into the professional and trusted resource for the University community that it is today.

“It used to bother me that SUA was thought of as ‘just a bunch of kids playing ambulance up on the Hill,’” says Busa. “Today I am proud to say we are still just a bunch of kids up on the hill, providing superior EMS services to the ���ϲ����� community and beyond as alumni.”

The scholarships, now in their 34th year, were founded as a tribute to—and means of remembering—the students studying in London and Florence through ���ϲ����� who were killed in the Dec. 21, 1988, bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. Those students were among the 270 people who perished in the bombing. The scholarships are funded through an endowment supported by gifts from alumni, friends, parents and corporations.

Significant support for the Remembrance Scholarships has been provided by Jean Thompson ’66 and ���ϲ����� Life Trustee Richard L. Thompson G’67 in memory of Jean Taylor Phelan Terry ’43 and John F. Phelan, Jean Thompson’s parents; by Board of Trustees Chairman Emeritus Steven Barnes ’82 and Deborah Barnes; by The ���ϲ����� Association of Zeta Psi in memory of Alexander Lowenstein; and by the Fred L. Emerson Foundation.

Selection Process

Remembrance Scholars are chosen in their junior year through a competitive selection process. Applicants submitted an essay and a reflective response in multimedia, artistic, musical or written format as part of a comprehensive application. The selection committee is composed of University faculty and staff and current Remembrance Scholars. The $5,000 scholarships are awarded on the basis of scholarship, leadership and service to the community.

Additionally, two students from Lockerbie come to ���ϲ����� each year for one year of study through the ���ϲ�����-Lockerbie Scholarships, also in their 34th year. The scholarships are jointly funded by ���ϲ����� and the Lockerbie Trust. Joshua Halliday and Tristan Woolley were recently selected as the 2023-24 Lockerbie Scholars.

“The Remembrance Scholars represent the future while honoring the past, which is both a great privilege and a great responsibility,” says Vice Chancellor and Provost Gretchen Ritter. “This year’s students, who have demonstrated strong leadership skills and a commitment to service, are up to the task. As with those who were tragically lost nearly 35 years ago, we are proud that these students are members of our University community.”

The Remembrance and Lockerbie Scholars plan the Remembrance activities held at the University each year. The scholars will be recognized during a convocation in the fall.

The 2023-24 Remembrance Scholars, their hometowns, majors, and schools and colleges are the following:

• Nicole Aponte of Franklin Square, New York, a broadcast and digital journalism major in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications.
• Christian Bevilacqua of Norwich, Connecticut, a social studies education major in the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S) and School of Education, a geography major in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and A&S and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program.
• Nina Chen of Palo Alto, California, a fashion design major in the College of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA).
• Dominic Chiappone of Miami, Florida, a history major in the Maxwell School and A&S and broadcast journalism major in the Newhouse School.
• Sophie Creager-Roberts of Charlottesville, Virginia, an environmental, sustainability and policy major and history major in the Maxwell School and A&S and a member of the Crown Honors Program.
• Daniela Dorado of Bogotá, Colombia, an advertising major in the Newhouse School and creative writing major in A&S.
• Mia-Marie Fields of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, a biomedical engineering major in the College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS).
• Guerdyna Gelin of Westchester, New York, a policy studies major in the Maxwell School and A&S and a member of the Crown Honors Program.
• Alison Gilmore of South Abington Township, Pennsylvania, a sport analytics major in the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics.
• Miguel Guzman of Lima, Peru, a biotechnology major in A&S and a member of the Crown Honors Program.
• Ka’ai I of Nu’uanu, Hawaii, a policy studies and international relations major in the Maxwell School and A&S.
• Benjamin Nicholas Johnson of Stafford, Virginia, a computer engineering major in ECS and a member of the Air Force Reserve Officers Training Corps.
• Kyle Joseph Kalmar of Fort Collins, Colorado, a student in the School of Architecture.
• Beizhou Li of Jiangsu, China, a political science and economics major in the Maxwell School and A&S.
• Lucio Maffei of West Orange, New Jersey, a political philosophy and ethics major in the Maxwell School and A&S and a member of the Crown Honors Program.
• Grant Maxheimer of Linden, Michigan, an international relations major in the Maxwell School and A&S, a citizenship and civic engagement major in the Maxwell School and a member of the Crown Honors Program.
• Mitchell Mazza of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, a neuroscience and psychology major in A&S and a member of the Crown Honors Program.
• Aiden McGorry of New York, New York, a student in the School of Architecture.
• Jovanni Mosca of Corinth, New York, a computer science major in ECS and a member of the Crown Honors Program.
• Aidan O’Connell of Manchester, New Hampshire, a political science major in the Maxwell School and A&S.
• Motolani Oladitan of Lagos, Nigeria, a psychology major in A&S and a member of the Crown Honors Program.
• Sofia Rodriguez of Miami Gardens, Florida, a communication and rhetorical studies major in VPA.
• Emily Saad of Allentown, Pennsylvania, a finance major in the Martin J. Whitman School of Management, a creative advertising major in the Newhouse School and a member of the Crown Honors Program.
• Katarina Sako of Buffalo, New York, a neuroscience and biology major in A&S and a member of the Crown Honors Program.
• Elliot Salas of Houston, Texas, an electrical engineering major in ECS.
• Mary Schieman of Mentor, Ohio, an environmental engineering major in ECS.
• Emily Jo Shuman of Durham, New Hampshire, a human development and family science major in the Falk College.
• Hannah Skelton of North Caldwell, New Jersey, a political science major in the Maxwell School and A&S and citizenship and civic engagement major in the Maxwell School.
• Hannah Starorypinski of Emmaus, Pennsylvania, a political science major in Maxwell School and A&S and a member of the Crown Honors Program.
• Otto Sutton of Corning, New York, a political science, history and political philosophy major in the Maxwell School and A&S.
• Anna Terzaghi of Sydney, Australia, an anthropology and international relations major in the Maxwell School and A&S and a member of the Crown Honors Program.
• Madison Wallace of Bedford, New Hampshire, a biochemistry and neuroscience major in A&S and a member of the Crown Honors Program.
• Emily M. Weaver of Mount Morris, New York, an Earth and environmental sciences and forensic science major in A&S, an anthropology major in the Maxwell School and A&S and a member of the Crown Honors Program.
• Xibo Xu of Jiangsu, China, an applied data analytics major in the School of Information Studies and an international relations major in the Maxwell School and A&S.
• Zhiyun (Alita) Zhang of Shanxi, China, a psychology and linguistic studies major in A&S.

Organizers in the iSchool partnered with the group, based in the , to challenge participants to use generative artificial intelligence (AI), specifically the text-to-image AI , to create eight to 10-page comic books. Teams were asked to focus on the notion of how we may live with and around artificial intelligence. Teams competed for $3,000 in cash prizes and were judged by a panel of faculty experts.

“Information plays a role in so many dimensions of human life—from the arts and social life to medicine and sports,” says associate professor Jaime Banks, who organized the event. “The aim of the iDare series is to help highlight some of these intersections and how our students can think critically and creatively about them.”

Graphic from CODE^SHIFT comic

“When Jaime approached me to partner with the iDARE challenge, I immediately said yes. Innovative ideas emerge when people work collaboratively. AI is something that can be mysterious and even scary for those not familiar with it,” says Srivi Ramasubramanian, professor and Endowed Chair in the Newhouse School and founder and director of .��“iDARE’s ‘future justice’ theme��helped students reflect on the challenges and benefits of AI in a fun and creative way.”

The participants included students from the iSchool, College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS), Newhouse School, Whitman School of Management, College of Arts and Sciences, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and College of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) and ranged from undergraduates to Ph.D. students.

And this challenge wasn’t your typical student study project. The 45 participating students, divided into 10 interdisciplinary teams, were sequestered in Hinds Hall from 9 a.m. on a Saturday to 2 p.m. on Sunday to work on the challenge. This, says Banks, provided the perfect environment for collaboration.

Graphic from IcyIce comic

“Over 29 hours of the competition, the 10 teams came up with some really thoughtful, compelling and creative interpretations of the theme,” Banks says. “It was definitely a hefty undertaking for everyone involved—and the feedback from student challengers is that it was difficult, frustrating … and totally fun.”

The awards, presented on that Sunday evening, included technical composition (how well the team performed in creating what they envisioned, told a cohesive story and leveraged the formal features and conventions of comics as a medium); theme engagement (how well each diverse team came together to creatively interpret notions of future justice in life with AI); and challenger’s choice (the participants’ pick for the most outstanding comic).

Winners were Team CODE^SHIFT (technical composition); Team RiskRush (theme engagement) and Team IcyIce (challenger’s choice). All of the final comics .

Chelsea Brown, a television, radio and film major in the Newhouse School and a citizenship and civic engagement major in the Maxwell School, says her iDare experience��was filled with lots of learning and motivation. She was on the CODE^SHIFT team comprised of Newhouse, Whitman and VPA students.

“None of us knew anything about AI, but we did know how to create an impactful story,” she says. Going into the challenge, Brown thought the 29-hour timeframe seemed excessive. “We ended up falling asleep in Hinds at 3 a.m., woke up at 7 a.m. and submitted the assignment five minutes before the deadline,” she says.

Brown served as the team leader. In that role, she planned out the 29 hours, delegated tasks and made sure are images were consistent with the theme of the story.

Graphic from RiskRush comic

Her team’s story, “Not So Distant Future,” was a commentary on the potential effects recent legislation surrounding book banning and curriculum restrictions in Southern states can have on students’ understanding of American history. The team won the $1,000 prize in the technical composition category, which measured the consistency of its characters/aesthetics, image composition, alignment to texts and visuals, and structure/conventions for storytelling.

“The biggest lesson I learned from this experience is that you don’t need to be a coder or an iSchool major to understand AI. I believe that AI is going to be a critical part in the future of storytelling and should be included in all of the colleges’ curricula,” she says.

Keisha Rorimpandey, a senior civil engineering major in ECS, collaborated on the team with three other women who were data science master’s degree students. “I enjoyed the IDare challenge. I am a creative person and use AI daily (ChatGPT, etc.) but really don’t know much about it. I wanted to see how I can create art with it,” she says. “The challenge really did allow me to be creative but also surprisingly trained me how to utilize the right words for descriptions. AI is a technology that uses words to understand what the user wants, and my team members and I were not prepared for that. I learned a lot from this experience, but mostly how important it is to be able to communicate with the AI bot with clear, descriptive English words.”

Banks says the event was a success. “Not only did the challengers show up, but they showed up. Every team that competed actually finished (which is a feat in itself), but each finished comic was remarkably thoughtful, creative and represented how they mastered the complexity of this information challenge. All of the teams learned how to productively communicate with a generative AI.”

“Through this practical and collective experiential learning opportunity, students from a variety of backgrounds learned to work together across differences. As an organizer, I am really proud of the absolutely amazing final presentations by all the teams,” says Ramasubramanian, who also served as a judge. “To hear them talk through their interpretation of the theme, the ways in which they overcame difficulties and the learnings that came out of their involvement was heartwarming.”

The next iDare challenge will be held in Spring 2024. Watch for announcements this fall for details.

Four | juniors have been selected to participate in highly competitive and prestigious public affairs experiences this summer.

Isabella Brown and Madelin DeJesus Martinez, both policy studies majors, will attend the Public Policy and International Affairs (PPIA) at Carnegie Mellon University.

Alexandria Johnson, an international relations major with the topic concentration in security and diplomacy and a regional concentration in Africa, will participate in the summer enrichment program through the .

Erykah Pasha, a political science and sociology major, will participate in the .

PPIA fellows are rising seniors interested in pursuing a master’s degree in public policy or international affairs and a professional career in public service. The program hosts summer training institutes focused on public policy and international affairs at universities across the country. It promotes the inclusion of underrepresented groups in public service and supports students who demonstrate involvement in working to improve historically underserved or underrepresented communities. The program provides full tuition at a Junior Summer Institute (JSI), GRE preparation, a $5,000 scholarship at a PPIA graduate school (PPIA fellows often receive scholarships beyond this amount) and application fee waivers to graduate programs in the PPIA consortium.

The PPIA applicants received support on their applications from Michelle Walker, director of community programs for the policy studies program in the Maxwell School; Melissa Welshans, assistant director of the Center for Fellowship and Scholarship Advising (CFSA); and Jolynn Parker, director of CFSA.

The Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Summer Enrichment Program is a six-week summer program at Howard University designed to provide undergraduate students with a deeper appreciation of current issues and trends in international affairs, a greater understanding of career opportunities in international affairs, and the enhanced knowledge and skills to pursue such careers. Students attend classes and participate in a variety of programs with foreign affairs professionals at Howard University and at diverse locations around Washington, D.C. The program covers the costs for tuition, travel, housing and meals, and provides a stipend of $3,300.

SROP at the University of Michigan (U-M) strives to support diverse students in their preparation for graduate studies. Through intensive mentorship, active learning and enrichment activities, SROP fosters a community of scholars who increase social and cultural capital and networking while mastering research skills.

Isabella Brown

Brown, from Scranton, Pennsylvania, is a Coronat Scholar and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program. She will pursue the data analytics track during the PPIA experience. “I am hoping to learn how I can effectively use technology to advance the public interest and bolster socioeconomic opportunity in smaller cities and rural areas,” she says.

In the future, Brown plans to work to promote strong, interdependent communities through grassroots organizing and participatory local government. “As an incoming PPIA fellow, I intend to develop my skills as a data analyst and put those skills into action,” she says.

Madelin De Jesus Martinez

Martinez, of Washington Heights, New York City, is a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program.

She plans to take advantage of PPIA’s GRE preparatory course, networking events and alumni network, and hopes to achieve a deeper understanding of the intersection of public policy and data analytics. “I want to build a career where I use data science to analyze and suggest policies that ensure equal access amongst different communities in the U.S. public service system, from healthcare to policing,” Martinez says. “PPIA will immerse me in an environment with students who are eager to gain necessary skills to tackle complex societal problems and give me the opportunity to further develop and apply my quantitative, analytical, policy analysis and leadership skills.”

��Alexandria Johnson

Alexandria Johnson, from Cleveland, Ohio, is a McNair Scholar and is minoring in French and Francophone studies in the College of Arts and Sciences.

During her Rangel Scholar experience, she hopes to engage in meaningful conversations with inspirational people in the U.S. foreign affairs community. “I hope to gain a deeper understanding of myself as I prepare to make the transition from an academic career to a professional one. I am also incredibly excited to travel to D.C. and become a representative for others in my immediate community! I am eager to meet other like-minded scholars to encourage conversations about bringing more diversity to the field.”

Johnson is considering a career in international politics focusing on defense policy and diplomacy. “I think dialogue is increasingly important among nations as concepts of defense are changing,” she says. “The Rangel summer enrichment program will help me in my future career goals by giving me a unique support system that will provide insights into the people, institutions and processes crucial to international affairs.”

Erykah Pasha

Pasha is from ���ϲ�����, New York, and is a McNair Scholar. During her summer experience, she will assist Lydia Kelow-Bennett, assistant professor of Afroamerican and African studies at the University of Michigan, on a book proposal on Black women in popular culture. “I hope to use this work, as well as the resources provided through the SROP, to broaden my research knowledge and skills,” Pasha says.

Pasha aims to become a professor in the future. “I hope this experience at the University of Michigan will assist me in narrowing down my own research interests and give me a better idea of what I want in a Ph.D. program,” she says.

���ϲ����� junior Iona Volynets has been named as a 2023 recipient of the Truman Scholarship.

Volynets, of Washington, D.C., is a history and international relations major in the and with a museum studies minor in the , a Coronat Scholar and a member of the . In October 2022, Volynets was named as one of three ���ϲ����� recipients of the Voyager Scholarship: the Obama-Chesky Scholarship for Public Service, a new award for juniors committed to public service funded by the Obama Foundation.

The Truman Scholarship was awarded this year to 62 exceptional college juniors in recognition of their community service, academic accomplishment and commitment to a career of public service.��Volynets was among 199 finalists selected from more than 705 candidates nominated by schools and colleges from around the country.

The was created by Congress in 1975 to be the nation’s living memorial to President Harry S. Truman. Since its creation, the Truman award has become the premier graduate scholarship for aspiring public service leaders in the United States. The scholarship seeks to fund students who possess the leadership skills, intellect and passion that will make them “change agents” for the public good in any field. Recipients receive $30,000 to fund up to three years of graduate education leading to a career in public service. Truman Scholars also benefit from a network of other scholars and the opportunity to participate in professional development programming to help prepare them for careers in public service leadership.

Volynets is the 14^th Truman Scholar from ���ϲ����� since the program’s inception in 1975, and the first named since 2018. They worked with the����(CFSA) on their application and in preparing for their interview.

“Iona’s outstanding academic record, thoughtful community engagement, and leadership skills made them an excellent candidate for the Truman Scholarship,” says Jolynn Parker, director of the Center for Fellowship and Scholarship Advising. “They are poised to become exactly the kind of change agent the Truman Foundation seeks to recognize. I can’t wait to see what they do with this award.”

Volynets plans to work at the intersection between the arts and public service in the field of cultural preservation. “This is a field that requires a high degree of skills, knowledge and expertise. I would like to be the best possible public servant, and gaining a graduate degree will allow me to be a more informed, better prepared leader.”

They would like to change the field, making it more diverse, participatory and accessible. They also hope to dedicate their career to specifically focus on former Soviet, and especially Ukrainian, heritages.

“The skills, connections, experience and knowledge I will gain not only from a graduate degree, but from the support, guidance and opportunities offered by the Truman Scholarship will help me enter this field,” they say. “I can’t express how grateful I am for the opportunity. I hope to spend many years expanding my knowledge, so that I may one day be a truly impactful, humble and informed leader in the field. The Truman Scholarship provides opportunities to pursue this path, and I am so fortunate to have been given this incredible opportunity.”

Volynets is a current Lender Center Fellow, working under the guidance of Lender Faculty Fellow Seyeon Lee and with fellow students Ana Aponte González, Aaishanni Agny and Rose Hodg, and researcher Yash Shimpi. The group’s overarching project was focused on migrant women’s wellness in the Northside neighborhood. Volynets chose to work on access to culturally appropriate fresh produce, based both on past focus groups with women in the area and inspiration from organizations doing great work in their hometown of Washington, D.C. They spoke with nonprofits, farmers, gardeners and food security experts in the ���ϲ����� area and secured a partnership with the Central New York Food Bank, who provided culturally sensitive produce to the YMCA throughout the Fall 2023 season.

In addition, they conducted surveys at the nearby Northside Vineyard Church food pantry and surveyed the female refugee participants. Through these surveys, they determined which produce these women took and used, which produce they desired and whether they wanted access to feminine hygiene products. In addition, they collected information about their nationality and family size.

“From our data collection, we were able to learn more about how to provide culturally appropriate produce to the diverse Northside community,” they say. Volynets will continue this work in the fall to better determine which produce should be provided in specific neighborhoods of ���ϲ�����.

“My work as a Lender Center Fellow has been an exceptional and life-changing opportunity,” Volynets says.

Volynets has also served as a Service Learning Intern at the Shaw Center, as an intern with Save the Children and as a Teen Council member for the Smithsonian Galleries of Asian Art.

Volynets is currently spending the semester in Strasbourg, France, through ���ϲ����� Abroad. “I hope to one day be a polyglot, and practicing my French is one important step on that path,” they say. “In addition, being able to intern at the Council of Europe is an incredible and unique opportunity. I am so grateful to be able to work there, and have learned much from my time there. In addition, Strasbourg has a lot of fascinating history and art, making it a wonderful place for me to be.”

This summer, Volynets will travel to six former Soviet countries (Latvia, Lithuania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan). They will visit historic art museums and analyze the different ways these countries and regions portray their histories with the Russian empire, the USSR and the aftermath of the collapse of the USSR. “I am interested in national memory and the diverse and varied experiences in the USSR. I hope to turn this research into a distinction thesis in history, as well as an honors thesis,” they say.

Three ���ϲ����� students—Matthew Snyder, Cody VanNostrand and Jose Arturo Venegas—have been selected for the 2023 Goldwater Scholarship, the preeminent undergraduate scholarship awarded in the natural sciences, engineering and mathematics in the United States. This is the second consecutive year that ���ϲ����� has had three scholars selected in one year.

• Snyder, a junior, is a psychology major in the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S) and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• VanNostrand, a junior, is an aerospace engineering major in the College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS), a physics minor in A&S and a member of the Crown Honors Program; and
• Venegas, a sophomore, is a civil engineering major in ECS.

The was established by Congress in 1986 to honor U.S. Sen. Barry Goldwater, the five-term senator from Arizona. The purpose of the program is to provide a continuing source of highly qualified scientists, mathematicians and engineers by awarding scholarships to students who intend to pursue research careers in these fields.

The Goldwater Foundation received 1,267 nominations this year from around the country and 413 students were selected for the scholarship.

Each of the ���ϲ����� Goldwater Scholarship nominees worked with the Center for Fellowship and Scholarship Advising (CFSA) to prepare their application. A faculty committee, headed by James Spencer, professor of chemistry, selected ���ϲ�����’s nominees for the national competition.

“Matthew, Cody and Arturo benefited from excellent mentorship and guidance from faculty here at the University. The strong research profiles they have built, combined with their exceptional academic records and clear professional goals, made them outstanding Goldwater candidates,” says Jolynn Parker, director of CFSA. “They are among the next generation of leaders in innovation in STEM.”

Matthew Snyder

Snyder says his passion for studying psychology is driven both by a strong and genuine intellectual curiosity for the subject, as well as his belief in the unique capacity for work in this field to uplift human well-being. “I feel very fortunate that the field of study that has most tightly gripped my curiosity is one in which I feel there is a tremendous opportunity to conduct research ultimately aimed at helping others,” he says.

During Summer 2022, as an intern in the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Summer Research Internship Program, Snyder worked with Lisham Ashrafioun, assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Rochester, on a study assessing the efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy for loneliness in treating opioid use disorder (OUD) in individuals suffering from clinically significant loneliness.

Under the mentorship of Brett Jakubiak, assistant professor of psychology in A&S, he conducted an independent study assessing the role of attachment orientation in the support-seeking strategies used by anxiously attached individuals within their close relationships. And he has joined the laboratory of Katie Kidwell, assistant professor of psychology in A&S, and has begun working on his Honors thesis assessing the role of attachment in physical health behaviors under her mentorship. Laura Machia, associate professor and associate chair of psychology in A&S, has also been an important mentor.

Following graduation, Snyder plans to enroll in a Ph.D. program in clinical psychology that will support research at the intersection of pediatric health behaviors and addiction. He plans a research career focused on expanding the scientific understanding of pediatric health behavior.

“The financial assistance offered by the Goldwater Scholarship is very meaningful to my family and me and will allow me to enter graduate school with a greater degree of financial comfort. Being recognized as a Goldwater Scholar is an important recognition of my research achievements thus far, helping me to further my education and research,” he says. “I am incredibly grateful for the support that I have received from each of my research mentors, CFSA, and my friends and family.”

Cody VanNostrand

VanNostrand’s drive to study aerospace engineering comes from his desire to benefit society, specifically through improving transportation and aerospace vehicle capabilities. “Whether it be the upcoming urban air mobility industry, fluid-traversing robots or new types of space propulsion, a more mobile society will be able to better collect information and respond to the challenges it will face,” he says. “The aerospace field is one that is forward-looking, always with new ideas, technologies and challenges just around the corner, and I am excited to help create new ideas and solve such challenges.”

His study abroad experience in Florence, Italy, confirmed his intended path of study. “I was able to visit museums in my free time featuring the original instruments of scientists and engineers such as Galilei, DaVinci and even Bernoulli. Seeing the original instruments and how they directly related to the fundamental concepts of my coursework was both humbling and inspiring,” he says.

VanNostrand has seized opportunities for research since his first year in college. In Spring 2021, he joined the Aerospace Computational Methods Lab (ACML) of John Dannenhoffer, associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering. That summer, he participated in a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program in which he and a partner remotely coded and developed two models of balsa planes. In Summer 2022, as part of an REU program, he joined the Combustion and Energy Research Lab (COMER) of Jeongmin Ahn, associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, where he learned how to design and make a testing procedure for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). He is second author on a paper published in the Proceedings of the Nineteenth International Conference on Flow Dynamics. Last year, he was selected to participate in the L’SPACE NASA workforce development program. The experience he has gained in writing proposals, using quad charts, science traceability matrices, solicitation reviews and team-based research has helped to prepare him for a career in the space industry.

VanNostrand is currently working on his Honors thesis project investigating the fin oscillations of the manta ray via a model of his design, under the mentorship of Kasey Laurent, assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering. He plans to obtain a Ph.D. in aerospace engineering and pursue research and development in aerospace robotics at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory or in the private space industry.

“The Goldwater Scholarship is an amazing opportunity that will not only financially support the beginning of my career, but will also open me up to a network of scholar alumni that offer mentoring and advice; this will be immensely useful as I begin looking at graduate school,” he says. “I am incredibly honored to have been selected for this scholarship, and I am thankful for all the guidance I’ve received from the mechanical and aerospace engineering department and CFSA, and especially for continuous support from my friends and family.”

Jose Arturo Venegas

Venegas’ long-term goal is to aid as many people as possible while improving the conditions of the natural environment. “Civil engineering provides me with an avenue to improve the natural integration of infrastructure and utilities we use on a daily basis, while incorporating my passion for sciences, math and sustainability. I appreciate the career flexibility and hands-on field work that civil engineering allows,” he says.

Even before getting to the ���ϲ����� campus, Venegas began conducting research in the multiscale material modeling lab of Zhao Qin, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering. He developed an independent research project focused on verifying whether a structurally complex fiber-reinforced composite expressed a real-world negative Poisson’s ratio during compression. Through this research, Venegas has used classical lamination theory to identify a baseline of mechanics for composite structure variations. He has also utilized computer-aided modeling and finite element analysis to support the elastic data predicted in in-situ imaging experiments.

Venegas gained additional research experience participating in a National Science Foundation REU program in materials science research at the University of California-Irvine in Summer 2022. He worked on two projects–one in an all-solid-state battery lab and another in a grain boundary (GB) characterization lab. “Each project provided me with insights into electrochemistry and materials science,” he says. Venegas was a part of the program in fall 2022.

Venegas plans to earn a Ph.D. in civil engineering and pursue research on ecologically sound building material composites, with the goal of revolutionizing sustainable infrastructure in the U.S.

“The Goldwater Scholarship supports my commitment to materials research to expand energy infrastructure globally. I’m also excited to get involved in the Goldwater Ambassadors program to provide STEM mentorship to other students. I am honored to be recognized and could not have done it without the support of my research mentor, Dr. Zhao Qin, the Center for Fellowship and Scholarship Advising, my family and friends and many more,” says Venegas.

CFSA seeks applicants for the Goldwater Scholarship each fall; the campus deadline is mid-November each year. Interested students should contact CFSA at��cfsa@syr.edu.

The YRF program expects active participation in group mentoring for two years, including engagement with incoming members during the fellow’s final YRF year.

Fellows can draw on their research funds at any point during their undergraduate career. Faculty mentors are eligible for a two-time grant of $750 in research funds. The program is supported by the and the��.

“The YRF program brings together students from different areas of study who share a drive to engage in research or creative activity that responds to some of our biggest collective challenges,” says , director of the SOURCE. “The fascinating conversations among our group really highlight the value of diverse perspectives and a supportive cohort of motivated peers to help the students move forward in their work.”

“The CFSA and SOURCE teams support these developing researchers with funding, mentoring in research and external fellowships and opportunities, and engagement with useful speakers and resources; the faculty mentors support the YRF students by guiding their research and creative activity and mentoring them in the practices of the discipline,” Hanson says.

Miguel Guzman

Miguel Guzman, a junior in the , is a 2021-23 YRF and has been working in the laboratory of , associate professor of in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Miguel Guzman ’24

Guzman has focused his efforts on developing the next generation of therapeutics by lipidation, a class of post-translational proteins modification, to bio-actively produce calcitonin-based bio-degradable nanoparticles.

Calcitonin is a small peptide used for osteoporosis treatment, which must be administered every one or two days. However, calcitonin-based nanoparticles can act as “an extended-release” formulation that reduces its persistent administration. In the market, there is only one FDA-approved lipidated large protein which shows that lipidation is still an unexplored area of research.

“Given its vast potential for drug delivery, the Young Research Program has fostered my desire to continue working with engineered lipidated proteins and learning about their enormous therapeutic potential,” says Guzman, who plans to pursue post-graduate studies in biomedical engineering. “Overall, the YRF program has taught me thorough academic inquiry, creativity and, above all, how the Mozhdehi laboratory can make an impact in our community.”

Adya Parida

Adya Parida, a sophomore in the , says YRF has impacted her studies and research outlook tremendously.

“I did full time research with (assistant professor of ) in the College of Engineering and Computer Science last summer, which helped me apply my skills on a hands-on project and taught me how to learn new skills and collaborate with a team. I had to present a research poster for the first time and SOURCE helped me every step of the way,” she says.

Parida is currently working with , associate in the , on international trade treaties. “I love seeing how I can apply my technical skills to projects even outside my major,” she says.

Evelina Torres

Evelina Torres is a sophomore majoring in in the Maxwell School and the and in in the Maxwell School, with a minor in public communications in the .

Evelina Torres ’25

Their research is focused on how social barriers affect time privilege. They plan to, pending approval, conduct research at parks and recreation centers in the City of Houston and at La Casita in ���ϲ����� this summer.

“I will utilize my YRF research in part of my coursework as a citizenship and civic engagement major, and I feel that it is preparing me for exciting opportunities, from scholarships to graduate programs,” they say. “Through making mistakes and hearing feedback when making my research surveys and plans, I feel that I am gaining valuable skills in research design that I wouldn’t otherwise have. I’m already thinking about what I would do to conduct research in graduate school.”

The deadline for applications for the YRF 2023 cycle is Thursday, April 6. The program is open to students in all disciplines. To be eligible students must:

• Be a first-year student;
• Have a minimum 3.75 grade point average;
• Have the endorsement of a faculty member willing to serve as a faculty mentor for the two-year program; and
• Have a demonstrated commitment to research/creative inquiry.

To apply, visit the . The faculty mentor recommendation link can be found��.

If you have questions or need more information, call the SOURCE at 315.443.2091 or send them an email.

The SOURCE provides funding opportunities and serves as a hub to foster and support diverse undergraduate engagement in faculty-guided scholarly research and creative inquiry across all disciplines and programs at ���ϲ�����. CFSA’s mission is to make students, alumni and faculty aware of nationally competitive fellowship and scholarship opportunities; to help students and alumni identify scholarship opportunities appropriate to their interests and backgrounds; and to assist them through all stages of the application process, from planning to submission to interviews.

Carrie Mae Weems © Rolex/Audoin Desforges

“���ϲ����� is proud to have Carrie Mae Weems, one of the most prolific, influential and intriguing artists of our time, as a member of our community,” says Chancellor Kent Syverud. “She has a way of challenging cultural norms and shedding light on injustices that push us to question our own perspectives and beliefs. Her contributions to the world of art, and on communities and our broader society are extraordinary. On behalf of ���ϲ�����, I extend my deepest congratulations on this once-in-a-lifetime achievement.”

The Hasselblad Award is an international photography prize that is granted annually to a photographer recognized for major achievements. It was presented for the first time in 1980 to Swedish photographer Lennart Nilsson. The award includes a monetary prize of SEK 2,000,000 (about $188,000) and gold medal. The award also includes a medium format Hasselblad camera from the Gothenburg-based camera company Hasselblad.

An award ceremony will take place on Oct. 13 in Gotherburg, Sweden. That same day, an exhibition of Weems’ work will open at the Hasselblad Center and a new publication about Weems will be released.

“Carrie Mae Weems’s work has for decades anticipated salient issues of our time—the struggle for racial equality and human rights—with unflinching visual and ethical force. Her artistic practice is inherently activist, poignant and lyrical. She creates evocative, potent tableaux and confronts painful histories, institutional power and social discriminations,” the Hasselblad Foundation said in a statement. “At the core of Weems’s wide-ranging oeuvre is the still photograph, but she also deftly employs video, text, immersive multimedia installations and performance. She often inserts herself in her work, thus embodying and commemorating the Black female subject.”

“The Shape of Things” Installation View, 2021. ©Dan Bradica. Courtesy of Carrie Mae Weems and Jack Shainman Gallery

“In the midst of the radical shifts taking place across cultural institutions, and as the first African American woman to receive the Hasselblad Award, some might say, ‘it’s about time!’ Nevertheless, receiving the Hasselblad Award has left me speechless. I don’t have the words to express the depth of my gratitude. To have my family name inscribed on this historic roster, alongside some of the most outstanding photographers of our time, is a cherished honor,” Weems says. “To be recognized comes with the continued responsibility to deliver on the promise made to myself and to the field, which is to shine a light into the darker corners of our time and thereby, with a sense of grace and humility, illuminate a path forward.�� For this honor, I thank the Hasselblad Foundation and the jury.”

A����(a.k.a. “Genius” grant) recipient and the first African American woman to have a retrospective at the Guggenheim Museum,��Weems has used multiple mediums (photography, video, digital imagery, text, fabric and more) throughout her career to explore themes of cultural identity, sexism, class, political systems, family relationships and the consequences of power.

“Untitled (Colored People Grid),” 2019. ©Silver Street Studios. Courtesy of Carrie Mae Weems and Jack Shainman Gallery

As artist in residence, Weems engages with ���ϲ����� faculty and students in a number of ways, including working with students in the design, planning and preparation of exhibitions. The artist in residence program is overseen by the Office of Academic Affairs.

Weems first came to ���ϲ����� in 1988 to participate in Light Work’s artist-in-residence program. Over the years, she has participated in several programs at Light Work and has a long history of engaging with students and the University community.

Weems taught at ���ϲ����� previously, and out of her two courses Art in Civic Engagement and Art and Social Dialogue came the innovative and popular . She previously was artist-in-residence in the College of Visual and Performing Arts (2005-06) and she was a distinguished guest of the University Lectures in 2014.

Weems also was bestowed an honorary doctorate by the University in 2017 (along with honorary degrees from Bowdoin College, the California College of Art, Colgate University, the New York School of Visual Arts, Maryland Institute College of Art and Smith College).

In July 2020, Weems was honored by the City of ���ϲ����� for “Resist COVID Take 6,” her project to raise public awareness about the impact of COVID-19 on people of color, promote preventative measures and dispel harmful falsehoods about the virus.

Through image and text, film, video, performance and her many lectures, presentations and culturally significant convenings with individuals across a multitude of disciplines, Weems has created a complex body of work that centers on her overarching commitment to helping us better understand our present moment by examining our collective past. Determined as ever to enter the picture—both literally and metaphorically—Weems has sustained an ongoing dialogue within contemporary discourse for more than 35 years.

“Untitled (Woman and Daughter with Makeup),” from the series The Kitchen Table, 1990. ©Carrie Mae Weems. Courtesy of the artist and Jack Shainman Gallery.

Weems has participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions at major national and international museums, including The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; The Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; the Frist Center for Visual Art, Nashville; The Cleveland Museum of Art; Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York; The National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.; The Walker Art Center, Minneapolis; and the Centro Andaluz de Arte Contemporáneo in Seville, Spain. Most recently, Weems curated “What Could Have Been” in the Guggenheim Museum’s first-ever, artist-curated exhibition titled “Artistic License: Six Takes on the Guggenheim Collection.”

One of her photographs, “The Shape of Things,” was the title piece in a 2016-17����in New York featuring works from the collection of alumnus Robert B. Menschel ’51, H’91.

She is represented in public and private collections around the world, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; the Museum of Modern Art, New York; Tate Modern, London; Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; National Gallery of Canada; and the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles.

In total, seven publications of her work have been produced: “Kitchen Table Series” (2016), “Three Decades of Photography” (2012), “Social Studies” (2010), “Carrie Mae Weems: Constructing History” (2009), “The Hampton Project” (2000), “Carrie Mae Weems: Recent Work, 1992-1998” (1999) and “Carrie Mae Weems” (1994).

In addition to the MacArthur Fellowship, Weems has received numerous other fellowships, grants and awards, including the prestigious Prix de Roma, the Frida Kahlo Award for Innovative Creativity, the WEB DuBois Medal, the Louis Comfort Tiffany Award, the BET Honors Visual Artist Award, the Lucie Award for Fine Art Photography, the ICP Spotlights Award from the International Center of Photography, and she was named an honorary fellow of the Royal Photographic Society.

In 2012, Weems was awarded one of the U.S. Department of State’s first Medals of Arts in recognition of her commitment to the State Department’s Arts in Embassies program. In 2013, she received the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Lifetime Achievement Award. She was one of four artists honored at the Guggenheim’s 2014 International Gala.

In 2018, the ���ϲ����� Art Galleries (now ���ϲ����� Art Museum) acquired three significant works by Weems through a generous gift from alumnus Richard L. Menschel ’55 and the artist: “People of a Darker Hue” (2016)—a 15-minute video—and “All the Boys (Blocked 1)” and “All the Boys (Blocked 2)” (2016), archival photographic prints with screenprint.

Weems earned a B.F.A. degree at the California Institute of the Arts and an M.F.A. degree at the University of California, San Diego, and studied in the Graduate Program in Folklore at the University of California, Berkeley.

About ���ϲ�����

���ϲ����� is a private research university that advances knowledge across disciplines to drive breakthrough discoveries and breakout leadership. Our collection of 13 schools and colleges with over 200 customizable majors closes the gap between education and action, so students can take on the world. In and beyond the classroom, we connect people, perspectives and practices to solve interconnected challenges with interdisciplinary approaches. Together, we’re a powerful community that moves ideas, individuals and impact beyond what’s possible.

Taylor Hamilton G’18 has been named a 2023-24 Luce Scholar.

The is a prestigious, nationally competitive fellowship program launched by the Henry Luce Foundation in 1974 to enhance the understanding of Asia among potential leaders in American society. The program provides stipends, language training and individualized professional placement in Asia for 15 to 18 Luce Scholars each year.

The program aims to provide young scholars who have great potential, but little previous exposure to Asia, with an immersive experience through which they can learn to “be comfortable being uncomfortable.” The cultural and linguistic challenges they encounter are at the heart of the Luce experience and help the scholars grow personally and professionally. They also develop a sophisticated understanding of a dynamic region that is critical to America’s future and gain a new perspective of the world.

Eighteen scholars were selected from a pool of 34 finalists in a highly competitive interviewing process in which candidates were assessed on their professional interests, leadership potential, commitment to social change and personal integrity. ���ϲ�����’s third Luce Scholar, Hamilton will spend a year working in Asia, beginning in late June. Her placement is still being determined.

“At a time when the value of the open movement of people, ideas and information is being questioned, the foundation remains committed to supporting cross-border scholarship and dialogue. We are honored to welcome this impressive cohort into the global community of Luce Scholars,” says Luce Foundation President and CEO Mariko Silver.

Growing up as a Black American child in Texas, Hamilton learned the realities of disenfranchisement at an early age. “I listened to my elders discuss redlining, predatory mortgage lending and exclusionary zoning even before I fully comprehended their meaning,” she says. “By the time I understood how these types of practices influenced urban development, I was determined to promote economic opportunity for people with similar life experiences.”

Hamilton completed two years of her general education at Collin County Community College while still a high school student. This, she says, prepared her to navigate spaces with confidence in her abilities and experience.

She studied at the University of Kentucky, earning a bachelor’s degree in international studies and economics. There, she researched U.S. influence on the Korean film industry and wrote her bachelor’s thesis on homelessness in Japan. She also was a member of Sigma Iota Rho, an honor society for international studies, and volunteered with the Japan-America Society of Kentucky.

She served as the university’s Student Activities Board cultural arts director for two years and oversaw the relationship between student and community artists. “As a result, I explored community spaces and immersed myself in cultures that differed from my own. My involvement in the art world included studying public spaces—such as parks, mural walls, playgrounds, and outdoor event spaces—and how citizens interacted with these spaces,” she says.

Hamilton graduated with a master of public administration and a master of arts in international relations (M.P.A./M.A.I.R) from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs in 2018. She also completed a certificate of advanced study in conflict resolution. She studied the regional geopolitics and economy of East Asia and the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), and the influence of non-state actors. At Maxwell, she benefited from meeting people from around the globe and interacting with her peers—learning how public policy can best serve people.

In addition to her academics, Hamilton worked to promote an equitable student and staff experience on campus as an employee of the University’s Office of Equal Opportunity, Inclusion and Resolution Services, primarily assisting survivors of sexual violence and ensuring campuswide Americans with Disabilities Act compliance.

She is currently a management consultant, where she advises government agencies and social impact organizations on change management, organizational design and operational transformation. She has furthered social and economic equity through such consulting work as helping a U.S. federal government agency increase broadband access for tribal, rural and Black communities and performing an impact assessment on local economic mobility for a non-governmental organization (NGO) in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Hamilton is currently pursuing her long-term career aspirations of being an urbanist and spatial equity advocate. She is a public policy consultant who advocates for equitable housing access such as homeownership programs for low-income households or natural resource management in resilient city spaces. “I advise local governments, national government agencies and international NGOs on topics ranging from accessible community-building to smart cities, such as interviewing citizens and developing plans to improve urban spaces using their input,” she says. “I’m interested in the poorest of cities such as ���ϲ����� where local government is remediating spatial inequity by removing a highway dividing the city along racial and income lines.”

Some of the most meaningful moments she has had have come from her community engagement experiences—collecting survey feedback, hosting listening sessions, making phone calls, knocking on doors—that facilitate space and time for the people of the community to give their input. “The outputs of those conversations have really reinforced for me the kind of impact I would like to have,” she says.

Hamilton is eager to begin her Luce placement, which she says will give her the opportunity to not only benefit from the experience but to make an impact as well. “A year in Asia with Luce will be transformative by providing me with a rare opportunity to work in Asia and contribute on equal footing with other professionals in the realm of urban studies, giving me a more holistic view of community development,” she says. “Since the Luce Scholar program presents an opportunity for soft diplomacy, I would also like to share urban policy approaches that U.S. cities have found work to support their citizens, especially vulnerable communities—such as low-income households, Black and Hispanic households, refugee-led households, gender and sexual minorities and tribal communities.”

She is also looking forward to getting involved with the metalsmithing and yoga communities in Asia. “Following this experience, I will continue to define a career for myself as an urbanist and spatial equity advocate where I can make equitable community development a reality for the most vulnerable Americans,” Hamilton says. “I believe inequity can only be addressed by developing public policy solutions that work for all, and by learning from effective policy approaches employed by other countries. Through a year in Asia with Luce, I know I will develop the skills and experience needed to support this goal.”

Students interested in the Luce Scholars Program should contact the (CFSA) at cfsa@syr.edu.

Col. (Ret.) Frederick Gregory

Gregory will tour campus and meet with student groups, then give a talk in which he will share his experiences in space flight and discuss the future of space exploration. He will also recognize Alexander Metcalf ’22, G’23 and Matt Cufari ’23, two recent University recipients of the Astronaut Scholarship.

The event, sponsored by the (CFSA), will be held from 4-5 p.m. in the K.G. Tan Auditorium in the National Veterans Resource Center at the Daniel and Gayle D’Aniello Building. The event is free and open to the University community and the public. For questions or to request accommodations, email cfsa@syr.edu.

A native of Washington, D.C., Gregory attended the U.S. Air Force Academy, where he received a bachelor’s degree in military engineering. He earned his wings after helicopter school, flew in Vietnam, transitioned to fighter aircraft, attended the Navy Test Pilot School, and then conducted testing as an engineering test pilot for both the Air Force and NASA. He received a master’s degree in information systems from George Washington University.

During his time in the Air Force, Gregory logged approximately 7,000 hours in more than 50 types of aircraft as a helicopter, fighter and test pilot. He flew 550 combat rescue missions in Vietnam.

In 1978, Gregory was chosen by NASA as a member of the first class of Space Shuttle astronauts. He became the first American with African lineage to pilot a spacecraft, the orbiter Challenger, on mission STS-51B. This flight was the second flight for the laboratory developed by the European Space Agency for scientific experiments on the space shuttle.

Gregory was also the first person of African lineage to command any space mission with the launch of STS-33 in 1989 on the orbiter Discovery. He then commanded STS-44 on Atlantis, which in addition to deploying a Department of Defense satellite, DPS 15, also conducted extensive studies to evaluate medical countermeasures to long-duration space flight.

Gregory also assumed the roles of associate administrator for safety and mission assurance and associate administrator for space flight before becoming NASA’s deputy administrator. As the leader of the agency’s human space flight program and as deputy administrator, one of his central goals was to have humans leave low Earth orbit on a journey in which Mars was the first step.

Gregory to Recognize Astronaut Scholars

Alexander Metcalf ’22, G’23

During his visit, Gregory will recognize the most recent ���ϲ����� recipients of the Astronaut Scholarship awarded by the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation (ASF).

Founded by the Mercury 7 astronauts, the foundation awards scholarships to students in their junior or senior year who are pursuing studies in science, technology, engineering or mathematics and who plan to pursue research or advance their field upon completion of their final degree. Nominees are selected based on their exemplary academic performance, ingenuity and unique aptitude for research. ���ϲ����� is a university partner of the ASF.

Matt Cufari ’23

In addition to funding for educational expenses of up to $15,000, the scholarship includes the opportunity for scholars to represent their institutions and present their research at the Scholar Technical Conference; professional mentoring for one year by scholarship alumni, a C-suite executive or an astronaut; the opportunity to participate in a professional development program and foundation events; and membership in the Astronaut Scholar Honor Society.

The honorees are:

• Alexander Metcalf ’22, G’23, a master’s degree aerospace engineering student in ECS. Metcalf was named a 2021-22 Astronaut Scholar.
• Matt Cufari ’23, a senior physics major in the College of Arts and Sciences, a computer science major in ECS, a Coronat Scholar and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program. Cufari was named a 2022-23 Astronaut Scholar.

Ten students from ���ϲ����� were selected for Fulbright research, study and teaching awards for academic year 2022-23 to Austria, Colombia, Germany, Morocco, North Macedonia, Poland, Spain (two awards), United Kingdom and Uzbekistan.

“As ���ϲ����� prepares students to be global citizens, the educational and research opportunities offered by the Fulbright program are often a key part of that mission, so this designation is particularly meaningful,” says Vice Chancellor and Provost Gretchen Ritter. “Our Fulbright students make a difference in the world. Just as importantly, the Fulbright experience can be a transformational one for our students.”

Jake Glenshaw, ’19 (Maxwell/Arts and Sciences) is currently in Austria through a Fulbright Combined Award pursuing research and teaching English. His research is on sustainability in winter sports.

“On behalf of President Joseph R. Biden Jr. and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, congratulations to the colleges and universities recognized as 2022-23 Fulbright Top Producing Institutions, and to all the applicants who were selected for the Fulbright Program this year,” says Lee Satterfield, assistant secretary of state for educational and cultural affairs. “Thanks to the visionary leadership of these institutions, administrators and advisors, a new generation of Fulbrighters—changemakers, as I like to say—will catalyze lasting impact on their campus, in their communities and around the world.”

The Fulbright competition is administered at . The University has been named a Fulbright Top Producing Institution three times—for the 2012-13 cohort (under campus Fulbright advisor and professor emerita Susan Wadley), and 2019-20 and 2022-23 cohorts (under CFSA).

Anna Poe ’20 (Maxwell/Arts and Sciences) is currently in Spain as an English teaching assistant.

Forty faculty and staff members from across the University served on the campus Fulbright committee for the 2022-23 cohort. The committee is convened by CFSA; members interview applicants, provide feedback and complete a campus endorsement for each applicant. “Our Fulbright work is an all-campus effort. Faculty and staff support is crucial to our students’ success,” says Jolynn Parker, director of CFSA.

Students apply for Fulbright awards in the fall and awards are made in the spring. In the current competition for the 2023-24 cohort, 22 of the University’s 24 applicants have been named as semifinalists. Awards will be announced this spring.

Fulbright is the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange program. It is also among the largest and most diverse exchange programs in the world. Since its inception in 1946, more than 400,000 participants from all backgrounds and fields—including recent university graduates, teachers, scientists, researchers, artists and others, from the United States and over 160 other countries—have participated in the Fulbright Program. Fulbright alumni have returned to their home countries to make an impact on their communities thanks to their expanded worldview, a deep appreciation for their host country and its people, and a larger network of colleagues and friends.

Fulbright alumni work to make a positive impact on their communities, sectors and the world and have included 41 heads of state or government, 62 Nobel Laureates, 89 Pulitzer Prize winners, 78 MacArthur Fellows and countless leaders and changemakers who carry forward the Fulbright mission of enhancing mutual understanding.

More information about the .

Molly Corbett Broad

Molly Corbett Broad ’62, H’09, a ���ϲ����� alumna who became a nationally renowned higher education leader and advocate, died Jan. 2. She was 81. A memorial service to celebrate her life and legacy will be held in the coming weeks.

A native of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, Broad earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and College of Arts and Sciences in 1962. She went on to earn a master’s degree in economics at The Ohio State University before returning to ���ϲ����� where she began her career in higher education administration.

“Molly was an extraordinary higher education leader, colleague, alumna and friend of ���ϲ�����,” says Chancellor Kent Syverud. “She was generous with her time and knowledge, often sharing her experience and wise counsel with me over the years. Many institutions benefited from her talent, leadership and vision. Most significant are the countless ways Molly impacted the people fortunate to know her. Students, faculty, staff and administrators learned from her, respected her and achieved great things thanks to her.”

Broad, a longtime member of the ���ϲ����� community—spanning the 1970s and 80s— held a succession of administrative posts from 1971-85, including vice president for government and corporate relations, director of institutional research and manager in the Office of Budget and Planning. In 1976, she took a one-year leave of absence to serve as deputy director of the New York State Commission on the Future of Postsecondary Education.

“I learned many things from Molly,” says David M. Van Slyke, dean of the Maxwell School. “The most important was that the future of higher education is not going to be confined to place-based instruction. Maxwell must be ambitious in delivering an interdisciplinary policy education rooted in a commitment to engaged citizenship through different mechanisms. We must do more to reach a broad range of students that will not be physically pursuing their education in ���ϲ�����, New York. I’m grateful for her leadership, care and generosity and for the extensive support the Broad family has provided ���ϲ����� and the Maxwell School.”

After leaving ���ϲ�����, Broad served as chief executive officer for Arizona’s university system from 1985-92. She moved on to the California State University system, where she served as senior vice chancellor for administration and finance from 1992-93 and as executive vice chancellor and chief operating officer from 1993-97.

Broad was president and chancellor of the 16-campus University of North Carolina (UNC) system from 1997-2006, the first woman and non-North Carolina native in that role. As UNC’s chief executive officer, she was responsible for managing the affairs and executing the policies of the university and representing it to the North Carolina General Assembly, state officials, the federal government and other key constituencies.

She led UNC through a period of unprecedented enrollment growth. Due in large part to the success of the university’s Focused Growth Initiative, minority enrollment grew at more than double the rate of the overall student body during her tenure, and special state funding allowed for significant academic and operating improvements at the system’s historically minority campuses. She also championed the creation of a need-based financial aid program for in-state undergraduates and the creation of the College Foundation of North Carolina. She also served as a professor in the School of Government at UNC Chapel Hill.

Molly Corbett Broad and Chancellor Kent Syverud at Orange Central in 2015

In May 2008, Broad became the 12th president of the American Council on Education (ACE) and the first woman to lead the organization since its founding in 1918. She led the organization until 2017.

“Molly Corbett Broad was a pathbreaking and innovative higher education leader whose work made a profound impact on thousands of students at the institutions she served and all of American higher education,” says ACE President Ted Mitchell. “Molly spearheaded a wide range of initiatives aimed at advancing the Council’s historic mission of leadership and advocacy, improving access to postsecondary education, and enabling colleges and universities to anticipate and respond in innovative ways to an evolving higher education landscape.”

Broad wrote and spoke widely on strategic planning for higher education, K-16 partnerships, information technology, globalization and biotechnology. She held seats on the boards of PBS and the Parsons Corp. She was past chair of the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges (NASULGC), past chair of the Internet 2 board of trustees and past president of the International Council for Distance Education.

She was a longtime member of the Maxwell School Advisory Board. She received the George Arents Pioneer Medal, the University’s highest alumni honor, in 1999 and an honorary doctor of laws degree from the University in 2009. She received the Melvin A. Eggers Senior Alumni Award in 2015.

Broad was predeceased by her husband, ���ϲ����� native and fellow alumnus Robert Broad ’60, in 2020. She is survived by her two sons, Robert Jr. and Matthew. Her grandson, William, is a current ���ϲ����� student in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications.

A scholarship fund has been established in her honor. Those interested in contributing to the Molly Corbett Broad ’62, H’09 Washington, D.C. Experiential Learning Fund can visit the . Donations can also be sent to the Maxwell School at ���ϲ�����, 200 Eggers Hall, ���ϲ�����, NY 13244.

Founded in 1953, the Marshall Scholarships finance young Americans of high ability to study for a graduate degree at an institution in the United Kingdom in any field of study. Sardino was one of 40 students selected from around the country and is ���ϲ�����’s fifth Marshall Scholar.

Sardino will study in the U.K. for two years. During the first year, she will pursue a master’s degree in digital humanities at King’s College London. During the second year, she will pursue a master’s degree in applied anthropology and community arts at Goldsmiths, University of London.

“Receiving this award is such an amazing honor and a critical step towards to achieving my goals. Studying in the U.K., which is rich with innovative public storytelling initiatives, will be invaluable to my future career in community-based storytelling. Pursuing my master’s at King’s College London will enable me to learn from leading scholars in the field of digital humanities and in an institutional environment that clearly values the role of non-academic communities in research,” Sardino says. “Being awarded the Marshall Scholarship would not have been possible without the guidance and support of the Center for Fellowship and Scholarship Advising, my mentors within ���ϲ����� and across the City of ���ϲ����� and the unwavering support of my family.”

“The Marshall Scholarship selects students based on three criteria: academic merit, leadership potential and ambassadorial potential,” says Jolynn Parker, director of the Center for Fellowship and Scholarship Advising (CFSA). “Maggie’s outstanding record of scholarly achievement, her leadership in our community and her ambassadorial temperament make her an excellent fit. She has very clear plans for graduate study in the U.K. and for a future dedicated to making storytelling a powerful mechanism for peacebuilding and social justice in the U.S and beyond. This extraordinary award will help her achieve those goals.”

After earning the degrees in the U.K., Sardino plans to pursue a Ph.D. in composition and cultural rhetoric with an emphasis on public engagement and digital rhetoric. She then plans to seek an academic position in writing and digital storytelling and serve as a consultant to a community-based storytelling organization. Her goal is to lead a national nonprofit organization that equips communities with traditional and digital storytelling skills to foster social justice.

“The U.S. and U.K. are facing similarly pressing problems including political turmoil,
energy crises and border and immigration emergencies. In countries dealing with
such urgent issues, promoting community-based storytelling may seem non-
essential,” Sardino says. “However, I see storytelling as a way to build the connections and mutual understanding that solutions to these problems will require. By building and maintaining connections in the U.K., I hope to develop joint storytelling programs focused on empowering communities with creative skills and innovative perspectives.”

During her time at ���ϲ�����, Sardino has been a storyteller through the����program, a storytelling workshop partnership between the College of Arts and Sciences and ���ϲ�����’s Northside Learning Center, and the��SU Globalists��publication.

“Being able to work with the Narratio Fellowship and the Globalists publication has been an absolute honor. I have learned so much from these experiences. The most valuable lesson has been recognizing the responsibility I have as a storyteller. Narratives have the ability to empower communities, forge connections and challenge falsehoods,” Sardino said in a previous interview with SU News. “Both of these programs have instilled in me that reflecting on the impact of your work and acknowledging the larger context it exists within is crucial to being an ethical storyteller. My work with the Narratio Fellowship has also imparted to me the responsibility storytellers have to equip others with the tools they need to share their own stories on their own terms.”

As a research assistant with City Scripts, Sardino wrote, directed, produced
and co-edited a documentary on a public housing complex in ���ϲ����� exploring
current plans to replace the complex with mixed-income housing. As an organizer and presenter with The Most Beautiful Home… Maybe, a national theatrical project focused on elevating the perspectives of public housing residents and influencing housing policy, she co-designed and led community workshops around place-based historical and personal narratives which empowered communities to share their stories of home.

“These experiences have demonstrated how absolutely critical it is that those whose voices are often decentered and silenced have a platform to share their own stories. Ensuring that marginalized communities have the space and tools to share their own experiences and narratives, creates a greater potential for cross cultural connections and for public policy to be equitable.”

Through the Engaged Humanities Network (EHN), Sardino has had the opportunity to research how universities assess their publicly engaged initiatives and how we can foster greater connections across these types of initiatives.

“The work I have done with the EHN has been fundamental to my desire to study in the U.K., where I hope to gain a better understanding of how partnerships between governmental agencies, the nonprofit sector and universities can support community-based storytelling,” she says.

Sardino is a Coronat Scholar, Remembrance Scholar, member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program and 2022 Fulbright Canada Mitacs Globalink Scholar. Through the Fulbright Mitacs award, she worked on a digital humanities project at the University of Victoria in British Columbia focused on making humanities scholarship more open, inclusive and accessible to non-academic audiences. As part of that experience, she helped to organize and facilitate the 2022 Digital Humanities Summer Institute, a gathering of hundreds of scholars, faculty and staff from the arts, humanities, library and archives communities to share cutting-edge digital humanities work.

Students interested in applying for national scholarships that require University endorsement, such as the Marshall Scholarship, should complete an “intent to apply” form with Center for Fellowship and Scholarship Advising by the end of June 2023 and plan to work with��.

The convocation will be preceded by the annual Rose-Laying Ceremony at 2:03 p.m. at the Place of Remembrance, located in front of the Hall of Languages. This ceremony memorializes the 270 people, including several students studying abroad through ���ϲ�����, who were killed in the Dec. 21, 1988, bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. The ceremony also honors 2002-03 Lockerbie Scholar Andrew McClune, who died in 2002.

American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation will be provided at the Rose-Laying Ceremony, and ASL and Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) will be provided at the convocation. The Rose-Laying Ceremony and convocation will be .

The Remembrance Scholarships are funded through an endowment supported by gifts from alumni, friends, parents and corporations. Significant support for the Remembrance Scholarships has been provided by C. Jean Thompson ’66 and ���ϲ����� Board of Trustees Chairman Emeritus Richard L. Thompson G’67, H’15 in memory of Jean Taylor Phelan Terry ’43 and John F. Phelan, Jean Thompson’s parents; the Fred L. Emerson Foundation; Deborah Barnes and ���ϲ����� Board of Trustees Chairman Emeritus Steven W. Barnes ’82, H’19; and the ���ϲ����� Association of Zeta Psi in remembrance of our brother, Alexander Lowenstein.

Applicants for the $5,000 scholarship are asked to highlight their academic achievements, creative pursuits, leadership activities and community service. They also wrote essays and participated in interviews with members of the selection committee.

Additionally, each year, two students from Lockerbie are selected as Lockerbie Scholars. They spend one year studying at ���ϲ����� on a scholarship before returning to the United Kingdom to complete their university degrees. Both ���ϲ����� and the Lockerbie Trust support this award. This year’s scholars, Zach Blackstock and Natasha Gilfillan, will be recognized at the convocation.

Chris E. Johnson, associate provost for academic affairs and professor of civil and environmental engineering in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, will preside over the convocation. A message will be delivered by Chancellor Kent Syverud and a Remembrance Scholar will speak on behalf of the group.

The 2022-23 Remembrance Scholars and their hometowns and majors are:

• David Barbier Jr. of Miami, Florida, a television, radio and film major in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and an international relations major in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and College of Arts and Sciences (A&S);
• Diane Benites of New Providence, New Jersey, a biology major in A&S;
• Mira Berenbaum of Los Angeles, California, an accounting major in the Martin J. Whitman School of Management, a public relations major in the Newhouse School and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Olivia Budelmann of Fayetteville, New York, a mathematics major in A&S; a Spanish language, literature and culture major in A&S; an environment, sustainability and policy major in the Maxwell School and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Emma Dahmen of East Wenatchee, Washington, an economics major in the Maxwell School and A&S; a citizenship and civic engagement major in the Maxwell School; a Spanish language, literature and culture major in A&S and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Cori Dill of San Diego, California, a political science major in the Maxwell School and A&S and a public relations major in the Newhouse School;
• Ronald Ditchek of Brooklyn, New York, a music education major in the College of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) and School of Education;
• Dara Drake of Highland Park, Illinois, a policy studies major in the Maxwell School and A&S and member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Fabryce Fetus of Brooklyn, New York, a policy studies major in the Maxwell School and A&S and a public health major in the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics;
• Karina Freeland of Burke, Virginia, a policy studies major in the Maxwell School and A&S;
• Kinley Gaudette of Salisbury, New Hampshire, a public health major in the Falk College; a policy studies major in the Maxwell School and A&S and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Riya Gupta of San Ramon, California, a policy studies major in the Maxwell School and A&S;
• Jaime Heath of Bridgeton, New Jersey, a policy studies major in the Maxwell School and A&S; a political science major in the Maxwell School and A&S and a citizenship and civic engagement major in the Maxwell School;
• Sifan Hunde of Washington, D.C., an international relations major in the Maxwell School and A&S, a psychology major in A&S and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Amanda Lalonde of Baldwinsville, New York, a psychology and forensic science major in A&S, a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program and a U.S. Navy and Navy Reserve veteran;
• Adam Landry of Nashua, New Hampshire, a civil engineering major in the College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS) and member of the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps;
• Ivy Lin of New York, New York, a creative writing major in A&S, a history major in the Maxwell School and A&S and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Julianna Mercado of Holbrook, New York, a biochemistry and forensic science major in A&S;
• Jenna Merry of Overland, Kansas, an architecture major in the School of Architecture and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Josh Meyers of Livingston, New Jersey, a broadcast and digital journalism major in the Newhouse School;
• Ofentse Mokoka of Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa, an economics major in the Maxwell School and A&S and a writing and rhetoric major in A&S;
• Riley Moore of Gibsonia, Pennsylvania, a communication and rhetorical studies major in VPA; a policy studies major in the Maxwell School and A&S and a creative writing major in A&S;
• Nadia Nelson of Suffern, New York, a policy studies and political science major in the Maxwell School and A&S;
• Janice Poe of Atlanta, Georgia, a chemistry major in A&S, a member of the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps and a member of the U.S. National Guard;
• Mackenzie Quinn of Fredonia, New York, a sociology and political science major in the Maxwell School and A&S and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Maggie Sardino of ���ϲ�����, New York, a writing and rhetoric major in A&S; a citizenship and civic engagement major in the Maxwell School and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Brielle Seidel of Hillsborough, New Jersey, a public health major in the Falk College;
• Car Shapiro of Lake Worth, Florida, an entrepreneurship and emerging enterprises major in the Whitman School;
• Aidaruus Shirwa of ���ϲ�����, New York, a policy studies and economics major in the Maxwell School and A&S;
• Louis Smith of Seneca Falls, New York, a biology major in A&S; a citizenship and civic engagement major in the Maxwell School and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Emily Steinberger of Burlingame, California, a photojournalism major in the Newhouse School; a management major in the Whitman School and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Taylor Stover of Amherst, New York, an international relations and history major in the Maxwell School and A&S;
• Alesandra “Sasha” Temerte of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, an economics major in the Maxwell School and A&S; a writing and rhetoric major in A&S and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Amreeta Verma of Green Brook, New Jersey, an architecture major in the School of Architecture; and
• Jared Welch of Endicott, New York, an electrical engineering major in ECS and computer science and physics major in A&S.

Matt Cufari, a senior physics major in the College of Arts and Sciences, a computer science major in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, a Coronat Scholar and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program, has been named the recipient of the 2022 LeRoy Apker Award from the American Physical Society.

The prestigious award, given to just two students per year, recognizes outstanding undergraduate research and is the highest honor awarded to undergraduate physicists in the United States. Cufari is the first ���ϲ����� student to receive the award in its 44-year history.

“Receiving the Apker award is a tremendous honor. I’m incredibly grateful for the encouragement from Professor Coughlin and Professor Ross in pursuing physics at SU and in applying for this award,” says Cufari. “The support and contributions of Professors Coughlin and Ross, and Professor Chris Nixon at the University of Leicester, cannot be overstated.”

Cufari is recognized for verifying the Hills Mechanism as a viable method to generate repeating partial tidal disruption events (TDEs). At ���ϲ�����, he studies TDEs under the supervision of , assistant professor of physics in the College of Arts and Sciences.

His work investigates an exciting new field of repeating partial TDEs—where a star is on a bound orbit about a supermassive black hole in a distant galaxy and is repeatedly stripped of its outer envelope through tidal interactions with the black hole. “The mass lost by the star feeds the black hole and generates an ‘accretion flare’ that illuminates the galaxy,” says Coughlin. “The detection of these events—now numbering on the order of tens per year but predicted to be many more in the future as survey science becomes more advanced—yields fundamental insight into the properties of black holes and stars in galactic nuclei.”

Cufari’s work highlights a mechanism for placing the star onto its tightly bound orbit, where the star was originally part of a binary star system and “captured” by the black hole—the Hills Mechanism. In an article in the April 20, 2022, issue of Astrophysical Journal Letters, Cufari used a combination of analytic arguments and numerical simulations to demonstrate that this mechanism can generate repeating partial tidal disruption events and applied it to a specific system, known as ASASSN-14ko. “This work is fundamental and theoretical and promotes a new pathway for creating periodic and energetic outbursts from supermassive black holes,” says Coughlin.

This summer, with undergraduate research grant funding from , Cufari traveled to the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom. There, under the direction of Chris Nixon, associate professor of theoretical astrophysics, he performed simulations of partial TDEs and analyzed the properties of partially disrupted stars.

“Matt Cufari is a superstar student. As with previous Apker winners, we anticipate a long and distinguished career in physics,” says , professor and chair of physics in the College of Arts and Sciences, who nominated Cufari for the award. “We anticipate that Matt will not be the last ���ϲ����� Apker winner, but he is an extraordinary first one.”

Cufari developed a passion for plasma theory and nuclear fusion as a high school student when he began doing research at the University of Rochester Laboratory for Laser Energetics. There, he worked on a project to develop a theoretical framework for images of charged fusion products.

His studies at ���ϲ����� have given him skills in designing physical models of complex systems and solving problems mathematically. “In addition to my work in physics, my coursework in computer science has helped me to understand technologies like reinforcement learning and apply them to my research,” he says.

In his first semester at ���ϲ�����, Cufari joined a research project in the quantum information lab of , professor of physics, developing a parameter estimation software for superconducting circuits. Since his sophomore year, Cufari has worked with Coughlin researching theoretical astrophysics.

In May, Cufari was named a 2022-23 Astronaut Scholar by the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation. Earlier this year, he was selected for a 2022 Goldwater Scholarship.

He is a member of the Tau Beta Pi engineering honor society, the American Astronomical Society and the Society of Physics Students. Cufari plans to earn a Ph.D. in physics and pursue a career in astrophysics research.

Three ���ϲ����� students have been selected as recipients of the Voyager Scholarship: the Obama-Chesky Scholarship for Public Service, a new award for juniors committed to public service funded by the Obama Foundation.

The recipients are:

• Ka’ai Imaikalani I ’24 of Honolulu, Hawaii, a double major in international relations and policy studies in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and College of Arts and Sciences (A&S) with minors in biology in A&S and information management and technology in the School of Information Studies;
• Yasmin Nayrouz ’24 of Rochester, New York, an English major in the College of Arts and Sciences and public relations major in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications with a minor in global security studies in the Maxwell School and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program; and
• Iona Volynets ’24 of Washington, D.C., a history and international relations major in the Maxwell School and College of Arts and Sciences with a museum studies minor in the College of Visual and Performing Arts, a Coronat Scholar and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program.

The scholarship provides $25,000 a year for two years toward education expenses, $10,000 for research/service travel between junior and senior year (Summer Voyage), $20,000 in travel funding for the next 10 years, and leadership training.

I plans to use the scholarship to gain more skills and experience navigating the nonprofit sphere, particularly as it pertains to housing. “As someone who has been able to view the failures of the housing market firsthand, I plan on using the opportunities given to me by the Obama Foundation and Brian Chesky to combat the lack of access to affordable housing in Hawai’i,” he says. “This also takes on a more personal dimension, as I plan to focus most of my efforts on serving Native and Indigenous populations (as these communities are at far greater risk to lack affordable housing). Ultimately, I plan on using the scholarship to not only learn more, but to apply the knowledge I gain to better serve the communities around me.”

Nayrouz plans a career in policy advocacy for refugees and resettled families. She says the scholarship will allow her to focus more on volunteering and supporting nonprofits that help immigrant and refugee communities. “I’ve had to turn down unpaid opportunities in the past, so having this scholarship will allow me to volunteer during my summer and focus on my interests,” she says. “I hope to add to my education by using my Summer Voyage to explore policies and communication strategies that help immigrants and refugees.”

Volynets plans to use the scholarship opportunity to pursue an interest in preserving and celebrating cultural heritage, particularly of Ukrainian refugees during the current conflict. “Next summer, I hope to travel to Germany to speak to Ukrainian refugees to create a virtual museum celebrating the culture that is threatened or lost during the conflict,” they say.

All say their experience at ���ϲ����� has helped them prepare to make a difference.

“It was not until I sat through Professor [Bill] Coplin’s PST 101 class that I realized how much I had to learn,” I says. “I have learned countless lessons, perspectives and experiences that served to enrich my worldview and my ability to navigate professional and academic environments. Literally everything you can think of, from internships to community service, even this very scholarship, has been in some way impacted and enhanced by the vast resources ���ϲ����� has to offer.”

“The policy studies program has allowed me to get a better grasp on what effective and feasible change can look like, particularly on a community-wide scale. Through an emphasis on skills, experiential learning and servant leadership, I was able to not only discern a shortcoming in my community, but through collaboration, devise a manageable and creative solution,” he says.

Nayrouz says studying English and public relations at ���ϲ����� has demonstrated to her the power of storytelling. “When we share stories, listen and use communication tools to advocate for those who often are silenced, I believe we can create more effective policies surrounding migration,” she says. “At ���ϲ�����, I’ve been connected to InterFaith Works, where I currently volunteer, and have been a part of Student Association, where I’ve learned how to address concerns students have effectively. I was also a part of a data journalism project with Professor [Nausheen] Husain, where we looked at the consequences that one migration policy can cause.”

Volynets is gaining experience through their experience as a 2021-23 Lender Center Fellow. Their project involves creating a culturally sensitive food pantry for low-income refugee and New American women in ���ϲ�����. And their experience in the museum studies program here showed them that it’s possible to reconcile their love of art and their passion for public service, they say.

The Voyager Scholarship was created by President Barack and Michelle Obama and Brian Chesky, CEO of Airbnb, to help shape leaders who can bridge divides and help solve the world’s biggest challenges together. Even though they come from different backgrounds, both the President and Chesky believe that exposure to new places and experiences generates understanding, empathy and cooperation which equips the next generation to create meaningful change. The scholarship gives college students financial aid to alleviate the burden of college debt, meaningful travel experiences to expand their horizons, and a network of mentors and leaders to support them.

All of the Voyager recipients learned of the opportunity through the (CFSA) and worked with CFSA on their application materials. “We’re thrilled that Kai’i, Yasmin and Iona will benefit from the extraordinary support and opportunities the Voyager Scholarship affords,” says Jolynn Parker, director of CFSA. “Their leadership and commitment to public service represent the very best of our ���ϲ����� community.”

In 2022-23, the Voyager Scholarship was open to rising juniors planning careers in public service who are U.S. citizens, permanent residents or have DACA status. The deadline was mid-June. Eligibility requirements and deadlines for the next cycle have not yet been announced.

Below, she shares about this experience and her time at ���ϲ�����.

The pantry is located on the lower level of Hendricks Chapel (North Campus) and the Carriage House (161 Farm Acre Road, South Campus). Each location is stocked with food, personal care and household items, which are available at no cost to undergraduate and graduate students with valid ���ϲ����� or SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry I.D.

Vegetables, herbs and canned goods are among the items available from the Hendricks Chapel food pantry.

Leondra Tyler, student coordinator of engagement programs at Hendricks Chapel, manages the food pantry (Melissa Cadwell, sustainability coordinator in the Office of Sustainability Management, oversees the South Campus location). Tyler has seen an increase in recent months of students utilizing the pantry, particularly graduate students who are not on campus meal plans.

“A lot of students don’t realize how expensive food is, or it was cheaper in their home country,” she says. “And many students are hesitant to ask their parents for money.” Thus, students often have to make a choice between buying groceries and engaging in the student experience to the fullest.

“We are not here to buy groceries; we want to help students get through a tough time,” says Cadwell. “We want everyone to have the student experience that they deserve to have.”

Melissa Cadwell, center, sustainability coordinator, and Gabe Smith, right, manager of Pete’s Giving Garden, work with volunteers in the garden.

The pantry helps fill that gap. It is a cliché that college students live on Ramen noodles and quick meals—and the pantry certainly has those—but Tyler purchases and makes available items that are nutritious and filling, such as almond milk and produce. Purchased items are supplemented with donations from the campus community and the Food Bank of Central New York. Fresh vegetables come from Pete’s Giving Garden on South Campus.

“We want students to have access to these healthy items so that they can focus and do well academically,” Tyler says.

Pete’s Giving Garden has provided all kinds of vegetables and herbs for the pantry this year, including tomatoes, eggplant, carrots, onions, peppers and cucumbers. Squash will be available soon.

The garden is managed by Gabe Smith, a second-year food studies major in the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics, who began in May. In this role, he plotted what the garden would look like and planted, harvested and did everything in between—irrigation, accommodations for the weather, and wild animal and insect control. Multiple blooming plants were also planted for biodiversity.

In addition to providing produce for the pantry, the garden is a living laboratory for students and faculty, says Cadwell. Estelí Jiménez-Soto, assistant professor of food studies in the Falk College, is working in the garden with her Agricultural Studies class. Cadwell and Smith will be working with ���ϲ����� Hillel for a gleaning event in the garden for Sukkot in October. Cadwell also works with the Shaw Center, matching up students who need service hours with volunteer opportunities in the pantry and garden.

Smith, a California native who has experience in vineyard management, has found peace in Pete’s Giving Garden and in the many ways it supports the campus community. He particularly loves the impact it has had, from students to the Facilities grounds crew that laid its foundation. “It’s been a fantastic experience,” he says.

The North Campus pantry location at Hendricks Chapel is located on the lower level and is open from 1 to 4 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Sign-in begins at noon and bag distribution begins at 1 p.m. Sign in to the North Campus Food Pantry before your visit or upon arrival. Students needing emergency assistance outside of those times can contact the chapel at 315.443.2901.

The South Campus food pantry location is at the Carriage House, 161 Farm Acre Road, and is open Wednesdays and Fridays from 1 to 4 p.m.

Hendricks Chapel relies on generous donations from the ���ϲ����� community to keep the food pantry well stocked.��Ways to support the food pantry include:

• By donating food or personal care items. Physical donations may be dropped off at the Hendricks Chapel Dean’s Suite. Please ensure that donated items are not within six months of an expiration date. Items may also be ordered through the pantry’s��, which ships items directly to the pantry. All are encouraged to donate to the��.
• Holding a food and toiletry drive.��Student groups, residence hall floors, offices and departments can hold food and toiletry drives to benefit the food pantry. Contact Tyler at 315.443.1254 or engagesu@syr.edu to learn how you can “Adopt-A-Month” for the pantry.
• Volunteering at the food pantry. Volunteers are needed to stock and organize the pantry, assist with fresh produce deliveries on Fridays and answer questions for visitors. Contact Tyler for more information on volunteer opportunities.

Cerri Banks

���ϲ����� will host a formal Celebration of Life service on Thursday, Sept. 8, to honor the life and legacy of Cerri A. Banks, vice president for student success and deputy to the senior vice president of student experience, who passed away unexpectedly on July 31.

The ceremony will begin at 5 p.m. in Hendricks Chapel and feature remarks by Chancellor Kent Syverud; Allen Groves, senior vice president for the student experience and chief student experience officer; Mary Grace Almandrez, vice president for diversity and inclusion; Kelly Chandler-Olcott, interim dean of the School of Education; and Carla Guariglia ’23. Monica Davis will speak as a representative of the Banks family. The service will be immediately followed by a reception in the Noble Room of Hendricks Chapel.

“Cerri Banks embodied the spirit and soul of ���ϲ�����,” says Brian Konkol, dean of Hendricks Chapel, who will preside over the ceremony. “In addition to her brilliant intellect, courageous leadership and authentic advocacy, she was wonderfully kind, fully trustworthy and bursting with joy. We grieve because of our loss, and we give thanks because of her impact.”

Banks was a three-time graduate of ���ϲ�����, having earned a bachelor’s degree in inclusive elementary and special education, a master’s degree in cultural foundations of education, and a Ph.D. in cultural foundations of education. After serving at Hobart and Williams Smith Colleges, Mount Holyoke College and Skidmore College, she returned to ���ϲ����� in July 2021.

In addition to her role as vice president for student success and deputy to the senior vice president of student experience, Banks served as a member of the three-person interim leadership team charged with advancing the University’s diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility priorities and strategic planning efforts. She was a member of the School of Education’s Board of Visitors since 2009 and served as its chair for the past seven years.

Remitted Tuition Benefit—For Eligible Employees/Retirees and Spouses/Same Sex Domestic Partners

The remitted tuition benefit information session will be held Tuesday, Sept. 20, from noon to 1 p.m. via videoconference. . A link will be sent in advance of the session.

This information session will provide an overview of the University’s Remitted Tuition Benefit Program. Please visit the and the for details regarding eligibility.

Dependent Tuition Benefit—For Dependents of Eligible Employees

Benefits-eligible employees with children approaching college age can learn more about the University’s dependent tuition benefit through a videoconference on Thursday, Sept. 22, from noon to 1:30 p.m. The presentation will be repeated on Wednesday, Sept. 28, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Register for the or sessions. A link will be sent to those who register a few days before the session.

The presentation will provide an overview of the University’s three Dependent Tuition Programs (SU Tuition Waiver, Cash Grant and Tuition Exchange), as well as an opportunity for questions and answers. Those attending are encouraged to review the ��and the .

If you require an accommodation in order to fully participate in any of the sessions, please contact Pam Gavenda at pegavend@syr.edu.

If you have questions or would like more information, please contact the HR Service Center at 315.443.4042 or hrservice@syr.edu.

Bobby Pangborn

Pangborn graduated from the University’s InclusiveU program in 2020, receiving a certificate in drama. He stayed on after graduation as a part-time employee in the Whitman School mailroom, where he had interned throughout his time with InclusiveU. He continues a family tradition, as his mom, Amy Pangborn, is a former employee of the Bernice M. Wright School and the School of Architecture.

“I brought him back as we didn’t want him to leave,” says Sue B. Dean, office coordinator. “Bobby is part of the family…He is very reliable and he knows how to work the cranky copier!”

In the mailroom, Pangborn does the jobs that people don’t see but that are critical to the smooth function of the school’s operations. He completes copy jobs, sorts and distributes mail, distributes student paychecks, sends package notifications and makes sure that supplies are stocked, organized and labeled.

Dean says that Pangborn has not only been a stellar employee with great attention to detail, but a great mentor as well for student employees. “He shows them the ropes and how to do the job,” she says.

Pangborn has made a name for himself outside of work as well. Last winter, he competed locally in the Special Olympics and earned two medals—for giant slalom and regular slalom. He has been a skier since middle school, when he participated in ski club, and trained at Greek Peak and Song Mountain. What is his key to success on the slopes? “I always do my best,” he says.

He also has found a niche on the stage throughout the years. A seasoned actor, Pangborn has performed at the Redhouse and in the ensemble for several local theatrical productions, including “Hairspray,” “Godspell,” “Oliver,” “The Music Man” and “Carousel.”

“Bobby is really awesome,” says Brianna Shults, director of InclusiveU. “He was always an active member of the ���ϲ����� community when he was a student. He attended many events and had great relationships with everyone he met.”

“As an alumni, Bobby has been active in participating in various conference panels and employment events to share his experience while he was on campus, and how that helped to shape what he is doing now that he has graduated,” says Shults.

J. Michael Haynie, vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and innovation and executive director of the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF), testified before the House Committee on Small Business on June 8 during a hearing, “Military to Main Street: Serving Veteran Entrepreneurship.”

Haynie testified before the House Committee on Small Business on June 8 during a hearing, “Military to Main Street: Serving Veteran Entrepreneurship.” The purpose of the hearing was to discuss the role of veteran entrepreneurs in the economy and how the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) supports their transition to civilian life.

Haynie was among a panel of presenters who are deeply invested in the work of supporting veteran entrepreneurs, including Brenton Peacock, director��of the Florida Veterans Business Outreach Center at Gulf Coast State College��in Panama City, Florida; Laurie Sayles, president and chief executive officer of Civility Management Solutions in Greenbelt, Maryland, and Joe Shamess, founder and general partner of Flintlock Capital in Great Falls, Virginia. Once their testimonies concluded, they answered questions from committee members.

In testifying, Haynie drew on his long experience in the veteran business community to help committee members understand the unique needs of this population. “For many, the transition from military to civilian life is extremely challenging,” he said.

Haynie’s experience in leading IVMF over the past decade—and specifically the institute’s work to apply an academic and data-driven lens to understanding the opportunities and challenges associated with the transition from military to civilian life— has given him a unique perspective.

Some veterans pursue higher education and others pursue training positioned to prepare them for a meaningful trade and career, Haynie said. “At the same time, it’s also the case that a great many veterans, throughout history, have demonstrated a strong desire create their own job—through business ownership—after they take off the uniform.”

Data from the U.S. Small Business Administration suggests that in fiscal year 2021, more than 20,000 service members participated in small business ownership training in preparation for their transition to civilian life.

“Where the rubber meets the road, our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines are as entrepreneurial as they come—a fact contrary to the perception that the military is universally rigid and bureaucratic,” Haynie said. “In fact, our servicemembers are trained to make things happen, often in the face of dynamic and resource constrained environments.”

By its very nature, launching and growing a new venture is the highest form of social and economic service, Haynie said. More than 60 percent of new jobs created each year come from small business, to include those new jobs now employing the many millions of post-9/11 veterans that have transitioned to civilian life over the past 20 years.

“It is for these reasons, and many more, that the public and private sectors should continue to collaborate, on behalf of the men and women who answered the nation’s call to military service, to expand the opportunity for veterans to serve the nation yet again as America’s next generation of business owners and leaders,” Haynie said.

Haynie highlighted three findings from the just-published 2022 National Survey of Military-Affiliated Entrepreneurs (NSMAE), a study conducted by the IVMF each year. Among the findings were that access to capital is a top challenge for veteran entrepreneurs; the navigation of local resources is difficult; and the diversity of the community equates to disparate barriers and challenges.

Haynie also spoke at length on women veterans and military spouses. Women currently make up 17 percent of the U.S. military, and their service often equips them with vocational skills in high demand across the civilian labor market. Women veterans possess tested leadership ability, are resilient and demonstrate calm and confidence in high-pressure environments. “However, despite these compelling strengths, many female veterans cite persistent barriers to educational and networking resources necessary to bridge military-learned skills and experiences to business ownership,” Haynie said.

“Small business ownership enables military-connected women to pursue a professional career, in the face of unique caregiving responsibilities and frequent relocations often typical of a military-connected lifestyle,” Haynie said. “Consequently, collective action to create inclusive pathways to business ownership for military-connected women should be a national priority.”

Haynie said public and private sector funding should be allocated for this purpose and target not only adding scale to existing business ownership programs and pipelines serving military-connected women, but also deployed to seed and scale new and innovative pathways to business ownership for military-connected women.

A first step is to create a broader awareness of the supportive resources that already exist. One example is the Veteran Women Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship () initiative, currently offered by IVMF. This program, a partnership between ���ϲ����� and the U.S. Small Business Administration, includes online coursework, a three-day, in-person training experience and ongoing mentorship for female veterans and military spouses interested in business ownership. Similarly, the IVMF also provides—through a program called —a cost-free opportunity for military-connected women to earn vocational certificates and credentials that are in high-demand across the labor market and aligned with business ownership.

A great many of social, wellness and economic challenges that veterans face later in life have their origin in the preparedness of the veteran to successfully navigate the transition from the military to civilian life, Haynie concluded.

“Consequently, as we emerge from the COVID health emergency, the first, best use of our resources should be to ensure that those making the transition from military to civilian life are prepared, supported and proactively connected to the communities where they will live, work and raise their families. Based on research and practical experience, I have suggested here that expanded support for military-connected business ownership resources and training programs is positioned to advance that objective,” he said.

Trustee and Alumnus Larry Kramer ’72, right, received the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing Distinguished Achievement Award from Caleb Silver, left, SABEW president and editor in chief of Investopedia, at the SABEW’s annual convention on May 13. (Photo courtesy of SABEW/Victor G. Jeffreys II)

Kramer’s multidimensional career and significant impact upon the media industry has been recognized with the Distinguished Achievement Award from the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing (SABEW)—its highest honor. Kramer received the award during SABEW’s annual convention in New York City on May 13. The award is given to an individual who has made a significant impact on the field of business journalism and served as a nurturing influence on others in the profession.

Following the award presentation, Kramer shared reflections on his career with Brian Sozzi, editor at large and anchor at Yahoo! Finance, who was mentored by Kramer at TheStreet earlier in his career.

“They (Larry Kramer and David Calloway) saw something in me, then promoted me to editor where I would lead a team of reporters,” Sozzi said in a recent post on Twitter. “They mentored, encouraged and pushed me to hit grand slams. Importantly, they let me know when I missed the mark so I can improve.”

Sozzi spoke of some highlights of Kramer’s long and distinguished career, including photographing the Woodstock Music Festival, delivering papers during the October 1989 San Francisco earthquake, and creating MarketWatch and the modern-day USA Today.

“He mentored and discovered hundreds of journalists you know, love and follow each and every day,” Sozzi wrote. “Hell of a human being. Proud to be a graduate of his school. H/T to you. My friend.”

Kramer says the award was a nice surprise. “I am truly humbled to receive this award and join the list of previous winners who I have admired from near and far through all my years as a reporter, editor, entrepreneur and media executive,” he says. “This comes at a time when we particularly need to celebrate business journalism in its roles as a watchdog of business and government and in the constant search for truth. SABEW has always held our profession to the highest standards. It’s an honor to join those cited for their extraordinary work and for the examples they set for those who will follow us.”

“Larry Kramer is a visionary journalist, entrepreneur and teacher,” says SABEW President Caleb Silver, editor in chief of Investopedia. “He created several important business journalism platforms and organizations that are still going strong today and led several others to new heights. Beyond his business accomplishments, he has been an inspirational mentor, professor, philanthropist and friend of the industry throughout his incredible career.”

His Life’s Path Began at ���ϲ�����

Larry Kramer shares reflections on his career with Brian Sozzi, editor-at-large and anchor at Yahoo! Finance, during the SABEW annual convention. (Photo courtesy of SABEW/Victor G. Jeffreys II)

The seeds of Kramer’s legendary career were planted at ���ϲ�����, where he majored in journalism in the Newhouse School of Public Communications and political science in the College of Arts and Sciences and the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs.

During his time at ���ϲ�����, Kramer says he learned as much outside of the classroom as he did in it. He wrote for The Daily Orange and was a founder of The Promethean magazine.

Kramer learned an important lesson about tenacity during his senior year. He took a magazine writing class that was designed to give students a foundation in writing for freelance opportunities. He wrote an article, “The Grass and Hash Business at ���ϲ�����,” that focused on drugs on campus at that time (the early 1970s). The professor gave him a B+, and Kramer thought it deserved a better grade. “See if you can sell it then,” the professor told him.

He did just that and sent it to major publications. While he received more than 25 rejections, he got one acceptance that mattered…Fortune Magazine. Fortune ran his piece (he was the youngest author ever to have a byline in the magazine) and paid him $2,500—which covered Kramer’s tuition for the semester. Soon after he received a call on the phone on his residence hall floor from Rolling Stone, asking to run the story as well. He received another $2,500—covering his tuition for the whole year.

“It was a lesson for me in tenacity and how we have to make our own breaks,” Kramer says. “This is a subjective business—you can never give up.”

For Kramer, taking advantage of those breaks led to unbelievable experiences. A chance call he took while sitting on the DO’s city desk led to work as a stringer for The Associated Press (AP) and put him on the scene when a Pulitzer Prize-winning photo was taken at Cornell University. That paved the path to a summer internship with the AP, which led to him being the first photographer to capture images from Woodstock in 1969, photos that made the centerfold of Life Magazine.

After earning an MBA at Harvard University, Kramer began working at The Washington Post in 1974. When he arrived, his new editor shared what impressed him the most: “your uncanny ability to land feet first in the middle of big stories.”

“These were lessons I learned at ���ϲ����� that have paid out for me my whole life,” Kramer says.

A Love of Mentoring

Kramer shares great memories while reflecting on his career and the people he has worked with. “I have never had a job that I didn’t love,” he says. One of his greatest joys has been the opportunities to mentor young journalists. Among those journalists who worked for Kramer in their early years were CNN’s Poppy Harlow, The New Yorker’s David Remnick, The New York Times’ Kara Swisher and the late Gwen Ifill of PBS. He served as an adjunct instructor in the Newhouse School, and has been a lecturer at several universities, including Harvard Business School, University of Pennsylvania, University of California, Berkeley, New York University, Columbia University, Stanford University and Emory University.

After more than five decades in the industry, what advice does Kramer have for up- and-coming journalists and entrepreneurs? “Make your own breaks and aggressively follow your instincts,” he says. “Don’t get discouraged. Try something. If you get knocked down, get up and try it again.”

He also encourages speaking to people on their level, and to listen. Spend time. Be determined, persistent and do your research. Be inquisitive. “Do the job you were assigned and do it well. That’s how you get to eventually do the stories you want to do,” he says.

SABEW is the world’s largest association dedicated to business and financial journalism. The SABEW Distinguished Achievement Award was established in 1993 when it was awarded to Hobart Rowan of The Washington Post. There have been .

Matt Cufari, a senior physics major in the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S), a computer science major in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, a Coronat Scholar and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program, has been named 2022-23 Astronaut Scholar by the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation (ASF).

Founded by the Mercury 7 astronauts, the foundation awards scholarships to students in their junior or senior year who are pursuing studies in science, technology, engineering or mathematics and who plan to pursue research or advance their field upon completion of their final degree. Nominees are selected based on their exemplary academic performance, ingenuity and unique aptitude for research.

In addition to funding for educational expenses of up to $15,000, the scholarship includes the opportunity for scholars to represent their institutions and present their research at the Scholar Technical Conference; professional mentoring for one year by scholarship alumni, a C-suite executive or an astronaut; the opportunity to participate in a professional development program and foundation events; and membership in the Astronaut Scholar Honor Society.

Cufari will receive the award during the ASF Innovators Week and Gala held Aug. 24-28 in Orlando, Florida.��

“I’m very honored to be named an Astronaut Scholar. I’m grateful for the help I’ve received from my mentors here at ���ϲ����� and in Rochester; they have guided and supported me in my scientific endeavors, and I would not have had the opportunity to apply for and receive this award without their help,” says Cufari. “I’m also thankful for the Center for Fellowship and Scholarship Advising (CFSA) staff’s encouragement and assistance in applying for the Astronaut Scholarship.”

The Astronaut Scholarship is the latest nationally competitive scholarship Cufari has received. Earlier this year, he was selected for a 2022 Goldwater Scholarship.

“Matt’s extraordinary research profile, and presentation and publication record, made him an outstanding nominee for the Astronaut Scholarship,” says Jolynn Parker, director of the CFSA. “We’re thrilled that this award will support him in the important work he aims to do in astrophysics.”

A member of Tau Beta Pi, Cufari plans to earn a Ph.D. in physics and pursue a career in astrophysics research. His research interests are in drawing connections between laboratory plasmas and astrophysical plasmas to better understand phenomena like tidal disruption events and accretion disk formation.

“I’m interested in the dynamics of highly energetic phenomena that don’t readily occur in our solar system, like accretion onto black holes, the tidal disruption of stars and supernovae,” Cufari says. “These phenomena are exciting, luminous and abundant in the universe. Studying these phenomena is necessary to improve our understanding of the behavior of matter in exotic states and the physical processes which drive those behaviors.”

Cufari developed a passion for plasma theory and nuclear fusion as a high school student when he began doing research at the University of Rochester Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE). There, he worked on a project to develop a theoretical framework for images of charged fusion products.

His studies at ���ϲ����� have given him skills in designing physical models of complex systems and solving problems mathematically. “In addition to my work in physics, my coursework in computer science has helped me to understand technologies like reinforcement learning and apply them to my research,” he says.

In his first semester at ���ϲ�����, Cufari joined a research project in the quantum information lab of Britton Plourde, professor of physics, developing a parameter estimation software for superconducting circuits. Since his sophomore year, Cufari has worked with Eric Coughlin, assistant professor of physics, researching theoretical astrophysics.

Cufari’s first project with Professor Coughlin, on eccentric tidal disruption events, culminated in a paper which was accepted for publication in the Astrophysics Journal. He presented his results to the broader community of astrophysicists this month at the conference of the High Energy Astrophysics Division of the American Astronomical Society.

Cufari and Coughlin are currently investigating chaotic three-body interactions between a supermassive black hole and a binary star system through a National Science Foundation REU. They recently had an article accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal Letters that explains how to reproduce the periodic nuclear transient ASASSN-14ko using these encounters. Cufari was also recently awarded a ���ϲ����� undergraduate research grant (via The SOURCE) to fund his research this summer.

As a university partner of the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation, ���ϲ����� can nominate two students for the Astronaut Scholarship each year. Interested students should contact the CFSA for information on the nomination process (cfsa@syr.edu; 315.443.2759). More information on the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation can be found on .

Emma Liptrap’s passion for environmental engineering began in a parking lot.

In her junior year of high school, she set up a shadowing experience with a local engineering firm in her hometown of Salem, New Hampshire. Engineers brought her to a parking lot they were redesigning to mitigate stormwater runoff. They explained how water from large storms can become polluted from deposits on the ground and then flow directly into the nearby river.

“I had never thought much about parking lots or impervious surfaces before my shadowing experience, but after learning about their relationship to pollution and flooding I became fascinated—and committed—to learning more about stormwater management,” Liptrap says

Liptrap, a sophomore civil engineering major in the College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS) and member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program, is a recipient of a 2022 , which will help support her studies.

Named for Sen. Ernest “Fritz” Hollings of South Carolina, the prestigious award provides tuition support ($9,500 per year) and paid summer internships with NOAA to recipients. The award is designed to support students working in areas related to NOAA’s programs and mission. Students apply as sophomores, do an internship in their junior year, and receive support and mentorship throughout their undergraduate career.

In high school, Liptrap began her environmental and stormwater work by creating a sustainability club. In the first year, she gave presentations about water conservation to elementary school students, organized trash pickups at local parks, distributed water barrels to town residents and led a project planting a garden at a local park to promote wildlife.

She also worked as an intern with an architect who prioritized reusing materials and building for the future. “I loved learning about LEED certification and analyzing how we could make each build more sustainable,” she says. In her senior year, she won the New Hampshire Department of Education’s Work-Based Learning Award for her work in the internship.

Liptrap enrolled at ���ϲ����� because of the University’s civil and environmental engineering program, SOURCE undergraduate research funding program and research focus on the smart management of water systems. “I had also read about how Onondaga Lake used to be one of the most polluted lakes in the country, and the opportunity to learn more about how it is being restored excited me,” she says.

Her coursework involves technical engineering classes along with classes in social sciences to broaden her understanding of climate change. “Through my classes, it has been made clear to me that the work I will do in the future will require cooperation with many stakeholders, including scientists, policymakers and the public. I understand how crucial effective communication will be throughout my career and am developing those skills by learning how to give presentations and engaging in team projects,” she says.

Liptrap is working in the research lab of Cliff Davidson, Thomas and Colleen Wilmot Professor of Engineering in ECS. She is engaged in research using HYDRUS, a computer program that models the movement of water at different levels of saturation. The research is done on the 60,000-square-foot green roof of the Onondaga County Convention Center (ONCenter) in ���ϲ�����, studying its capacity to prevent stormwater from overflowing ���ϲ�����’s combined sewer system.

“Having a reliable program like HYDRUS to model stormwater runoff will help engineers designing��green��roofs in the future so that they can be built to fit an area’s specific needs,” Liptrap says.

Liptrap also joined the University’s Water Chemistry lab last summer, focusing on determining the rate at which pollutants in the air settle on surfaces in ���ϲ�����. “This project will help provide a blueprint for how to measure dry deposition in urban environments so that these pollutants can be better studied in cities,” she says.

She currently serves as outreach chair for the University’s student chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers. She is also a member of Engineering Ambassadors, a club that facilitates engineering projects for middle school students to introduce them to key engineering concepts.

In the future, Liptrap wants to design and implement green infrastructure in cities as a civil engineer with a private consulting firm. “Many cities across the United States have plans to become more sustainable, and water management through green infrastructure will be crucial to this work,” she says. “The Hollings Scholarship’s mentorship and internship opportunities will be invaluable in helping me better understand the state of the field and explore career paths.”

Liptrap worked with the�� to apply for the NOAA scholarship. CFSA offers candidates advising and assistance with applications and interview preparation for nationally competitive scholarships. “Emma’s sustained focus on environmental issues, and her specific interest in managing stormwater runoff, made her a terrific candidate for the NOAA-Hollings Scholarship. Her interests and goals are clearly aligned with NOAA’s mission,” says Jolynn Parker, director of CFSA. “We’re thrilled she’s won this award and will benefit from mentorship and internship opportunities through NOAA.”

The 2023 NOAA-Hollings Scholarship application will open in September Interested students should contact CFSA for more information: 315.443.2759 or cfsa@syr.edu.

Diane Schenandoah

grew up in a longhouse within a large, close-knit family on the Oneida Nation in Madison County.

Her mother was a Wolf Clan Mother of the Oneida Nation, and her father was a Beaver Clan Pine Tree Chief from the Onondaga Nation. Schenandoah was immersed in the traditions of her family and her ancestors before her, particularly in the Native connections with nature and thankfulness for the gifts of the Earth. Energy work—finding natural ways of healing within nature and spirit—was woven into the fabric of her life.

Schenandoah, a faithkeeper of the Oneida Nation, Wolf Clan of the Six Nations Haudenosaunee Confederacy, is the ���ϲ����� community’s first Honwadiyenawa’sek—One who helps them. The position, which she began last semester, is the result of commitments to diversity and inclusion the University has made to address concerns raised by Indigenous students in the fall of 2019.

In her role, Schenandoah shares her intuitive energy work with ���ϲ����� students, faculty and staff. “My work is grounded in my culture and traditional Haudenosaunee teachings, along with the techniques of hands-on energy work, art therapy, tuning forks, acupressure, dream interpretations and self-empowerment,” she says.

“My duty and my traditional responsibility,” she says, “are to share and promote the use of a ‘good Mind,’ which are ancestral principles of peace and the methods of conduct and responsibilities to the natural world.”

Schenandoah offers a new dimension to the University’s wellness offerings for students, faculty and staff.

“As Diane shares her work rooted in Haudenosaunee principles, she creates spaces with students that help them enhance their emotional and spiritual wellness in entirely new ways at the Barnes Center,” says Tanya Williamson, associate director of diversity, equity and inclusion at the Barnes Center at The Arch. “Her spiritual work with students and her education efforts across all parts of our community have tapped into gratitude and peace—components of holistic wellness that we can all benefit from focusing on.”

“I am having an amazing time working with students,” she says. “It is my great honor to be back at ���ϲ����� in this capacity.”

Members of the University community can make an appointment with Schenandoah by calling the Barnes Center at The Arch at 315.443.8000.

Among upcoming educational opportunities are:

on Monday, April 11, from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Using participatory education to foster truth, understanding and respect between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Peoples, the exercise is a unique two- to three-hour interactive group. Since its inception, this has been a powerful tool for participants to learn of the Indigenous experiences and historical impact for the past 500 years.

Participants are invited to experience colonization, conquest and attempted genocide of the Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island, especially in the territory stewarded by people of the Onondaga Nation and other Haudenosaunee Nations. This exercise is designed to raise awareness of European conquest, Indigenous resistance and survival through the use of meaningful quotes and blankets representing the lands of Turtle Island. Participants engage and explore this shared history, that non-Indigenous peoples rarely learn or cannot be provided by reading a book, attending a class or even Indigenous events. Participants have the opportunity to share with the group what they learned, felt and more, while resources are shared by facilitators to help participants continue their education.

on Monday, April 18, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on the Kenneth A. Shaw Quad. Participants will pause to thank Grandmother Moon for continuing her duties. During this small ceremony, participants will give collective greetings, thanks and pray for community, families and loved ones. Participants are encouraged to bring small hand drums, rattles and blankets. In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held in the Hendricks Chapel Noble Room.

On Monday, Aug. 29, the first day of the Fall 2022 semester, Schenandoah has tentatively planned an “Edge of the Woods” gathering at 3 p.m. on the Quad. The gathering is a traditional custom that is carried out when Haudenosaunee welcome visitors into their homelands.

Schenandoah is a 1982 graduate of the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico. A sculptor for close to 40 years, she works in mediums of stone, clay, wood, antler and bronze. She also has sung professionally as a backup singer since 1990, touring with her late sister, Grammy Award-winning artist Joanne Shenandoah H’02.

Madison Tyler ’23, a junior double major in African American studies and English (film and screen studies track) in the College of Arts and Sciences, has been named a recipient of a 2022 Beinecke Scholarship. A Coronat Scholar and member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program, Tyler is the third Beinecke Scholar in ���ϲ�����’s history.

The award provides graduate funding and mentorship for juniors in the arts, humanities or social sciences. The Beinecke Scholarship seeks to encourage and enable highly motivated juniors of exceptional promise to pursue graduate study in these fields. The Beinecke Scholarship works with approximately 135 participating institutions. Each school may nominate one candidate per year; the campus nomination process is highly competitive. This year, the Beinecke Scholarship Program selected 16 scholars.

Tyler is currently studying abroad in Madrid. Below, she talks about the award, her studies and her plans for the future.

Q: In your scholarship and research, you study Black excellence narratives, which promote Black exceptionalism as a prime indication of racial and social progress. What inspires you in this scholarship? How do you integrate film into these studies?

A: My scholarship is really driven by my desire to understand the gap between representations of Black wealth and respectability in film and television as progress and the issues the most vulnerable in Black communities still face today, such as educational inequity, gentrification, economic precarity, voter suppression and environmental injustice. Some of these issues I’ve witnessed and experienced growing up in South Los Angeles, so it’s also very personal.

Film and television consciously or unconsciously perpetuate values. We’re in an interesting moment right now where some of my favorite scholars and critics are interrogating and questioning the equivalence of Black excellence with (individual) wealth, which misses the nuance of the dynamics of race and class, marginalizes those who are poor and Black, and moves away from collective progress. For me, film can be imaginative, liberatory and constructive. So, if it has the power to maintain the status quo, it also has the power to disrupt it and create a new one.

Q: How will the Beinecke Scholarship help you in pursuing and reaching your goals?

A: The Beinecke Scholarship provides $34,000 to pursue graduate studies in the arts, humanities and social sciences. Many Beinecke scholars use the scholarship in addition to institutional support for living and other expenses. The scholarship will make it more affordable for me to spend a few more years in school to study cinema. Earning the scholarship will also open many other doors for me, especially during the graduate school application process and when seeking out other competitive scholarships and fellowships.

Q: You spent last summer as a fellow in the Moore Undergraduate Research Apprentice Program (MURAP) at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Tell us about that experience and what you learned from it.

A: During my fellowship, I started my research on Black excellence narratives in popular Black sitcoms. I worked closely with film scholar and UNC-Chapel Hill professor Dr. Charlene Regester to conduct my study. With her guidance and the support of the writing workshop and communication skills instructors, I presented my research to faculty mentors and my student cohort and ended the program with a 25-page paper. One of the most valuable lessons I learned was the importance of sharing your work while it’s in process. The experience as a whole–and especially, a workshop with a performance scholar-artist who meshes the critical and the creative—opened my eyes to a new range of possibilities for my career in academia. My summer research was just a jumping-off point, and I hope to continue it during my senior year.

Q: You created a film series on performances by Black musicians and singers in classical noir films, and served as a script supervisor and art director assistant on two student films. What were those experiences like?

A: I really enjoyed the film series exercise in my Film Noir class. Imagining I was a curator or programmer for a film festival, arts organization or a museum like The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles gave me a glimpse into what I could do with a Ph.D. in cinema studies beyond academia. I really hope my work has a public face to it.

I was a script supervisor for Cameron Gray’s upcoming short film, “The Bootyshort Revolution.” Cameron is a 2021 Beinecke scholar and she also provided so much moral support throughout my application process. Being on Cameron’s set was amazing because it really affirmed that I love the process of making movies as much as I love looking at them critically. The creative and the critical go hand-in-hand for me. I’ve known I’ve wanted to make films since high school, but I didn’t have much of an opportunity to collaborate with my peers while I was studying at home during the pandemic, so being on Cameron’s set was amazing. I learned so much and the script supervisor role allowed me to observe and ask lots of questions!

As the production assistant to the art director on the other set, I definitely got to flex a creative muscle I don’t often use. It was an awesome experience because the film required a lot of different props, costuming and artwork and I got to watch my talented friends do their work and collaborate with them. We even had to film in the cold rain, so I built up a bit of resilience in the face of adversity.

Q: You have been very involved on campus, as a columnist for the Daily Orange, editorial director for The Renegade Magazine and peer facilitator with First-Year Seminar. How have these experiences enriched your time at ���ϲ����� and what lessons will you carry forward into your time after graduation?

A: Each of these experiences has given me the opportunity to explore my passions for writing, film, popular culture and issues of diversity and inclusion. Being a film columnist for The Daily Orange has been one of the highlights of my time at ���ϲ����� because I’ve grown so much as a critic and a writer and I’ve gained a sense of confidence in my voice even as my perspective, worldviews, and approaches to criticism are constantly evolving and expanding. The Renegade Magazine has just been an incredible space where I can prioritize Black experiences, of which there are so many. That’s a priority that I came to ���ϲ����� with and it’s one I’ll be keeping for my entire life. It’s also a space where my identity is unquestionably affirmed, which is so necessary as a Black student attending a predominantly white institution. I really hope that as the editorial director, I’ve contributed to other young Black writers’ growth and confidence in their unique voices.

Q: What do you plan to do upon graduation from ���ϲ�����?

A: After graduating from ���ϲ�����, I plan on going to a graduate school that has a strong cinema studies program, finding a community of diverse filmmakers to collaborate and grow with, and continuing my work as a freelance writer. I hope to develop my voice as a cultural critic and start to work my way toward writing for my favorite publications. At first, I was very anxious about my post-grad plans, but receiving the Beinecke Scholarship has made my plans for the next few years a lot clearer.

Tyler worked with the Center for Fellowship and Scholarship Advising (CFSA) to apply for the Beinecke Scholarship. “I’m so grateful for the support I got from CFSA at each step of the application process,” she says.

CFSA offers candidates advising and assistance with applications and interview preparation for nationally competitive scholarships. The nomination process for the 2023 Beinecke application will begin in October. Interested students should contact CFSA at 315.443.2759 or by email to cfsa@syr.edu for more information.